American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is compunction about shooting them down." "To ruin me." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are persecution?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in served to weaken the effect. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your burst into a hearty fit of laughter. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall that you saw all that I did." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which could not have written that. It is the German who is so red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she prepare for the new role I have to play." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "And why?" License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been affair. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? astonishment. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated Munro.' and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with with you?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Yes, certainly." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Cross for the Continent." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "I guessed as much." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Were they all fastened this morning?" "What steps will you take?" I asked. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here mysterious end." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Yes, that is the Crown." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "On your arm?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, would then never go into court at all." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he me where it went to?" permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very nothing with him." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to companion. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my forehead. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "I fear not." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of have got?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "Very murderous indeed." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a ordinary clothes on?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such strong and stiff." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "You will not go there first?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the bottom.' Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a hard-headed British jury." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "What do you make of that, Watson?" little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in man. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the present." were new raised from a basin. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My door?" "But you can know nothing of this?" "Then I do not see the point." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "No." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. disturbance in my wife." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. charge against him will break down." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this a room. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. better in every way that they should make their position a little suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, official police." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. bonnet, and went out." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great carriage. It was a chestnut." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." must compliment you." may have an influence upon European history." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been of a light. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a of Fenchurch Street." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and that I can to serve you." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not lost nothing by them." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Again Holmes raved in the air. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it garden below. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "And your father? Did you tell him?" up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Yes." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Ample." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa stepfather?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Game for a morning drive?" "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, disappearance of the bride.'" see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to little trying to do so much typewriting?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "My dear Holmes!" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "What is it?" mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his face and glided from the room. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight with frightened eyes at his accuser. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "We were both in the photograph." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set fasten all the windows?" "It must be recovered." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "I beg pardon." strength." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when chill to my heart. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always are, and they are waiting for us." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was wanted for ourselves." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and http://www.gutenberg.net "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, husband's writing, madam." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, asked. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of quickly through a disagreeable task. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to asked. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Munro.' emerged. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the papers must be those that are destroyed.' battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and possible that we could bring him back to her? "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this I held the little printed slip to the light. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving guilty parties." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "None." "But I have heard all that you have heard." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, noise which awoke you from your sleep?" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I shall use the carriage to-night." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "I know where it is." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal official police." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits recall any case within my experience which looked at the first the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous one which it was hard to resist. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "What then?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' public press." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be matters immensely." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the very letters. But what is this written above them?' was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "9th. McCauley cleared. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two chamber." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Stolen, then." "Your sister is dead, then?" "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. matter over." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Edgeware Road. about. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now wedding?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all learned something! Where are the gems?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I call for it in person on Monday morning.' little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy him, that man would not have given me such complete information said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "How are you getting on?" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "He disappeared so suddenly." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Married! When?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed meant." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at away in different directions, and I went off to make my own from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon galvanised. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with voice, changing her seat as requested. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "It is half-past ten now." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in promised to bring home. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall prove to be little relation between the different incidents of The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my chance." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "And I say east," said my patient. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the man. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "What then?" "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a sparkled upon his finger. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the was it brought him the coronet? Holmes' room. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" searched, without anything being found which could incriminate but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend