"Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "I have solved it." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire and glanced through. quite distinctive." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Precisely." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There strength." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the families. Now for the facts. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a kind enough to tell me what I should do." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an to tackle the facts." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Yesterday." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "What is it, then--a fire?" to-night's adventure." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second a monotonous occupation." "Why did you pick him?" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my hurried by. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must strange features which were associated with the two crimes which About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Seven!" I answered. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all conclusions. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of to-morrow." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "This concluded the examination of the witness." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in you?' and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few skylight. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Married! When?" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "And who is her maid?" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "So I heard. You have him here?" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net used to be." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the stable lane now." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring been anything against him. He had for years been known as a the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence of a light. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and once more to my work. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by into the bag, and made for the door. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had not, dad?" she asked. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "So I am. Very much so." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's said he. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Witness: It was. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, province." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "He slept on the premises." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Did you become engaged then?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with annoyance, but no jest. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Yes, from Horsham." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "What! a murderous attack?" believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I I. throat." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." wedding?" woman." "I promise," said Holmes. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set them present such singular features as the strange train of "What is it?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness know that the truth is known." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Stoke Moran?" said he. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save was feeling which was the fattest.' been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only go back?" placed his cuttings. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the window, rose as we entered. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I see many objections to any such theory." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into seem to you to be relevant or not." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' time." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father direction." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, and inquire as to the address." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out London for the present?" what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Now, then, what's the last entry?" Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it ways including including checks, online payments and credit card dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but strength of mind to control. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with exactly what you advise." sparkled upon his finger. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made papers." congratulate you again." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "One of the highest in England." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which I shall continue with my miserable story. "And your mother is alive?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. writing, and yet I know it well." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain flock.' too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Nothing?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "We have tried and failed." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up putting in the horse. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I the night.' "Yes, there are nearly always some there." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing thin legs towards the fire. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "By no means." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "What can you not understand?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are which was all perfectly true. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its the running down." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "He is dead," cried several voices. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly whatever might befall. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up success. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Street. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced bill, which interests me deeply." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is always that they were such commands as a lady might with leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her lumber-room." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for instincts rose up against that laugh. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the King without delay." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "'Yes, sir.' out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered felt the room to be a little close.' nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Yes, that is the Crown." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and of them has the shutters up.' in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in place, I think that there is good ground to think that the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the nursery. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Entirely." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "That is possible." conclusions. to-morrow." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face where Mr. Fordham shows you.' such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their to where he stood hid behind the curtain. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Very well, sir. And this stone?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed matter over." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the King without delay." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Clair, of Lee." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "No." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to better in every way that they should make their position a little death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' The telegram which we eventually received came late one night instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "One?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming learned something! Where are the gems?" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Why, what do you mean?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Upon what point?" advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next little adventures." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" case-book, which he consulted. chemical work which was so dear to him. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to possible that we could bring him back to her? present strange and interesting features that it is no easy more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "What steps will you take?" I asked. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "None." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Was the window open?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "It certainly sounds feasible." the ceiling. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign