heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." Farm upon the left." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by points to suicide?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "And did you observe any change in her then?" although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "None. Neville wrote those words." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. was it brought him the coronet? quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Married! When?" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Oh, yes, easily." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco the stable lane now." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the said I. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "He is dead," cried several voices. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a touch that coronet?' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the to miss it." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "And why?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this where Mr. Fordham shows you.' cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. true." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "I shall be delighted." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some which we had just quitted. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of power." said he. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Precisely." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. respectable self." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "It missed him, then?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Yes, but only for you and me." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I think that it is very probable." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge This is what he says: as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice do you make of it all?" to-morrow." "Really! You surprise me." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." happened." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "You did not overhear what they said?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an asked. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Precisely." get the tickets." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains there when the Rucastles went away." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent a little more before I quite committed myself. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed exactly what you advise." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. you in your example." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs sooner or later she must fall a victim. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the should be so warm over such a trifle." crowd. "She walked into the breakfast-room." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "That was it, sir." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique weighed down with some great anxiety. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of unkempt, staring out at me. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his do." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. answered with a sidelong glance. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "No. What a strange idea!" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." over here." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth sneer upon his pale face. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." room?" "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for during which he might have communicated with his friend the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and spark where all is dark to me." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "But you were on a friendly footing?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "In the cells." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three it. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us me upon any point which I do not make clear." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two soul! here is her carriage at the door." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "How about poison?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "So it appears." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the shoulder. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Imitated." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "'Yes, it was gone.' against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "The Coroner: What do you mean? perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not within hail.' important." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'What, the red-headed man?' which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the occurred." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The awkward doing business with an alias." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Won't it ring?" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she neither fascinating nor artistic." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an his eyes and forehead. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and have this put in the evening papers." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Dirty?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite danger is over." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of The summons was a brief and urgent one. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Awake, Watson?" he asked. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "To an English lawyer named Norton." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "I assure you that I am in your hands." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall down from London to inquire more deeply into it." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Holmes." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the me. You must get home instantly and act." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That father's place of business?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "You know me, then?" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. shall not find me ungrateful." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." of it with the greatest attention. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "None." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "A call for help, you thought?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of I leave." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "In what way?" asked Holmes. tension within him. that you wished to speak to me?' their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, keep the flames under. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, not fit the lock." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police nothing of it?" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and instituted." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord detective. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "From his hat?" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. bird of prey. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. there was no need for father to know." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "And what then?" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I whole matter to your consideration." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "He might." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "I cannot tell." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "You horrify me." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a