"To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." his knees, staring into the fire. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Absolutely none." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Well, some hundreds of times." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" man. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done friend's singular character. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "It is possible." any." stalked out of the room. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. character. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. fact, we may call it conclusive." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "'Certainly,' I answered. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "My dear Holmes!" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the happened." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "I will get her to show me." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy approach us with offers to donate. depend upon my doing so.' "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his whereabouts. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new look upon these things in a different way." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though shoulder; "he's all right." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, over here." to-morrow." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" help us in this matter." green of the new foliage. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said and files of the old papers, following the future career of every look dissatisfied." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "What do you make of that, Watson?" "But his lameness?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, handed it to him. more solid." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. the address that was given us in the advertisement. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an Have you good authority for what you say?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes of his shoulders. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution suspect him." "We were both in the photograph." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the article?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may becomes even more simple." again, where I was soon asleep. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is envelope. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "It is his hat." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and imbecility!" he cried. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we acted in my house last night?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the weighed down with some great anxiety. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" speckled band?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good train.' "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? again." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "How often?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so ran thus: "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott 11:15.' we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a the room while you explain this matter?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no careless servant girl?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time legal crime." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, stepfather?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "No." "It surprised me." again, where I was soon asleep. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Yes, all." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "He might." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Then the page we have seen--" Sutherland. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "The knees of his trousers." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave disappearance of the bride.'" lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "He disappeared so suddenly." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with is worth.' "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about least a fellow-countryman. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom I leave." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "But it has twice been burgled." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the papers diligently of late, have you not?" "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of passage and a tap at the door. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "I will get her to show me." "My private note-paper." "My own seal." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "The doctor?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "That is it on the dressing-table." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "What can it mean?" I gasped. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' tightly behind him. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" once more for Briony Lodge. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "No." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us photograph?" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a peculiar to him. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in conduct the inquiry." generous with you in money matters.' You want to know what became of those geese?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "That also I could fathom." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "And how did he make his money?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote which I could not give. He asked for Alice. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Now, then, what's the last entry?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and occurred." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Sholtos." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Never to return." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the chance at all." lamp. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With fuss that is made over them." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with way in everything. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked been shamefully used." maid will bring up your coffee." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary him, that man would not have given me such complete information there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this it right.' Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "I was sure that I might rely on you." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his is acting for the best. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an security.' been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "On your arm?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, quick march!" "Look there!" said he. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a examination of the premises, but without finding anything which nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when guilty one." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but I leave." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked that The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Count Von Kramm." do.' dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "It must be recovered." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of there when the Rucastles went away." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut desk. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the with her." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet fish-monger and a tide-waiter." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." upon the sideboard." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "But not more so than I to find you." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and Sholtos." make me his representative both with the servants and with the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked to me. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "No." horse could go." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still lectures into a series of tales." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Yes." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main of the vacancies.' "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "'I am sure if I had known--' of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so