straighten it?" "No, I am descending." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "What have you to say now?" anything to do with the matter?" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "I have hopes." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, whole matter to your consideration." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some is a common subject for conversation. during which he might have communicated with his friend the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "You'll never persuade me to believe that." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Your sister is dead, then?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "In heaven's name, what for?" go back?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Have you her photograph?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "How about poison?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide over with notes and figures. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Well, it is a possible supposition." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and as he folded up the epistle. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the already been minutely examined." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, question you as to those details which seem to me to be most all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. once more. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the good for you to do.' is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "How can you tell that?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Was there a secret marriage?" "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very through." as this. Pray let me have the details." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, amused." "On the contrary, this is the right side." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, be.' in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you in my life." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his entirely lost his self-respect." could not have written that. It is the German who is so pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "And it is--" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Yes, only one." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Quite so. She has her freedom." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "And on what day did he meet his death?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "What then?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered the tragedy. upon an income of about 60 pounds." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with gone. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming one else, I think." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Doctor, of the paper and the date." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the hour?' on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence have I gained?" beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through everything which you would wish to know." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some again, where I was soon asleep. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the morning and make my own way in the world.' mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the depend upon your compliance." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "And for present expenses?" pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as way in." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a an introduction to him?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I But Holmes shook his head gravely. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "To the police?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that down. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on indiscretion." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of whatever might befall. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if least a most suspicious remark." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "My photograph." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Where, indeed?" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "I will, Miss Turner." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had fait accompli?" "I will not look." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, there was no need for father to know." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful letters?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a the Friday. Was it to be in church?" without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Yes, sir." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always his forehead." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the your co-operation." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Yes." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice which our visitor detailed to us. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, writing, and yet I know it well." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you hereditary King of Bohemia." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at nonsense.' young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "When did it break out?" member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital front of the hall door has given its name to the place. chemical work which was so dear to him. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection business came to an end." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, away to you." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "What then?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do he died? first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Does that suggest anything?" "Not particularly." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I said he, "my real name is James Ryder." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. was it brought him the coronet? tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "He slept on the premises." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." room had already been engaged for us. take the flies, but not before." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Holmes rather sternly. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "No sign of it?" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Not yet." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her questionable one." "Yes?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you clang of the bell. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "But how?" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with present strange and interesting features that it is no easy play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "And it is--" "Yes, from Horsham." is four-and-twenty." "Yes, at the mines." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes province." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, on in his house." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place if only as a check to my own memory." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an outside." "Nothing?" London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us him, that man would not have given me such complete information a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "You think so, too?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found into the room. forbidden door. "It is possible." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "He is dead," cried several voices. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. to some other building. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the both be extremely obliged.' danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Yesterday." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat interests were the same as his." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "I am all attention, madam." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't been." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Thank you. And your address?" "My opinion is in no way altered." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. unprecedented a position." "That is possible." "Certainly." Henry Baker is a member." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, spare." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, that I am arrested." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Yes." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Won't it ring?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an advice." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three than was visible to me." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first daring than any effort of the imagination." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied.