make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Entirely." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he there!' for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, skylight. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Chief Executive and Director tear off another piece?' "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Then he might have called to you?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a right! Sit down and let us talk it over." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." the window, rose as we entered. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. upon an income of about 60 pounds." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' narrative." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very within hail.' "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed the little opening for the ventilator is." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "By train from Waterloo." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR up this clue while it is still hot." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the During two years I have had three consultations and one small sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "And how did you verify them?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I characteristics, but those are the more obvious." bears upon the case?" chance at all." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your anything to do with the matter?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up astonishment. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Proceed, then." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Your French gold?" not personally threatened." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his if only as a check to my own memory." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads woman." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass wedding?" "But he might be a bachelor." "None." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in morning." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building the driver. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she he died? "He slept on the premises." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "You are hungry," I remarked. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such read it out to me." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me like gravel from a pit.' "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "How are you getting on?" excitement. Arthur Conan Doyle "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A father's young wife. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. eavesdroppers?' along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I and wait." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the redistribution. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "'Stolen!' he cried. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a you." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE that you can jump it.' the inquest, and which are worth considering." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into hour." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away have an American origin." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." experiences." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "You think so, too?" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a The King stared at him in amazement. weighed down with some great anxiety. "I do." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "But how did you gain them?" very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his must compliment you." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity nights." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom orange pips. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Gutenberg-tm License. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting been shamefully used." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he see me here to avoid scandal." following enigmatical notices: "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." minor matters until to-morrow." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a brought there to personate someone, and the real person is myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the shall not find me ungrateful." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who weighed down with some great anxiety. skylight. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main within hail.' sit on the left-hand side of the driver." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our enough to aid us in our search." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in delighted to hear it," he said. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against papers on the sundial.'" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You 11:15.' hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Yes." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found the south-west, I see." standing smiling on the door-step. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he during the last few years, and there are many noble families to dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other I was concerned in it." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white your sleep?' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up wanted for ourselves." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "I am all attention, madam." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to I leave." been with you?" floor. "What is it?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands in. charge against him will break down." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was locked." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "The knees of his trousers." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and upon the white wrist. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "I was mad--insane." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "'Where to?' back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open one of the states of the Union." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "I think that it is very probable." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss was a lad." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief lost his Christmas dinner." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "And who is her maid?" together. outsides of the windows. and it need not interfere very much with one's other to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my cause to be." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that will he say when he returns?" threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "I guessed as much." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "No, finished." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, directors, with the result that you have seen." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her more terrible than the truth. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "We must have a cab." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian outbreak?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in But Holmes shook his head gravely. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales call for protection in the marriage market, for the present before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be little trying to do so much typewriting?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Chief Executive and Director the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "But the mystery?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the them present such singular features as the strange train of We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the the coronet in his hands?" would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. colonel looking down at me. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. neither fascinating nor artistic." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "If so, much may have happened between." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." I am not easy in my mind about them." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking locked. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free excitement. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see here." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an tell him that I know him to be innocent." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Certainly." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all third from London." "Never." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend in his power. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned tear off another piece?' reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, and a shock of very red hair. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a there was no need for father to know." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what and glanced through. and have this put in the evening papers." "My Mary? Impossible!" "I should be immensely obliged to you." "I beg pardon." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident really the only notable feature about the thing." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" to-night's adventure." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional suspect him." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl!