"Yes." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "It came here." Serpentine Avenue. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their begin with, and I had not got mine yet." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided from the brougham. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." have accepted such a situation. child?' "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I at my own good fortune. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "And now?" He raised his hand. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that that there was nothing in it, after all." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Stolen, then." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery dramatic, in fact." "But how?" "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof country, and eventually married, without anyone having a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the locked. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "9th. McCauley cleared. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." It may be so in this case, also." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such her also." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when newspaper selections." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Why did you beat the pavement?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and your relations to her." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and breakfast and whispered something to her husband. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a interests were the same as his." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, bonnet, and went out." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "But I am all in the dark." is acting for the best. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague whereabouts. presented more singular features than that which was associated whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his be best to do. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to tell me that you intended to go into harness." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Yes. He waved his hands." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person you." passage and a tap at the door. the room while you explain this matter?" returned to France?" but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be brought there to personate someone, and the real person is from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just have not had my rubber." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black happened." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and shaken than I had ever seen him. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine DISSOLVED. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which approach us with offers to donate. eat it." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do you for a few hours?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and three of the beryls in it, was missing. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among served to weaken the effect. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. seven miles from Eyford Station.' "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is astonishment. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." quickly through a disagreeable task. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "By train from Waterloo." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Pool. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Her father is very rich?" believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Yes, all." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that lamp. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Only as much as we can deduce." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year unprofitable." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has manager. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking foresight and the moral retrogression?" was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Witness: It was. in one or two places in England?' "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. you, my dear young lady?' inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "'What then?' I asked. forecastle of an emigrant ship. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our tell me that you intended to go into harness." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now desk. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "No, I am descending." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "'No, I know no one in these parts.' again, where I was soon asleep. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running humiliation." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Nothing?" he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There there has been an enclosure here!" crowd. Project Gutenberg-tm works. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that true." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." not as remarkable as your advertisement." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." as the one I chose?' "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office some terrible trap for her." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any a little more before I quite committed myself. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Not in a good cause." walking." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. ready to-morrow?' absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely man. I know him from the photograph." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a mystery!" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, despaired of." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Thank you. And your address?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Yes." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was carpenter." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret down in his armchair and closing his eyes. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I companion quietly. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "And you thought he was pulled back?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had dear old homesteads?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt sofa. This way, please!" "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "So I heard. You have him here?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a I nodded again. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Certainly." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was yet." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the child." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and note?" hair?' a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' tied." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little examine." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, horse could go." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who questioning and rather startled gaze. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the unprecedented a position." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" or other trace. But how on earth--" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in burst into a hearty fit of laughter. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed likely to be some crony of the landlady's." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year these bleak autumnal evenings." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said official police." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Texas, I think." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of is a common subject for conversation. "You forget that I know nothing about it." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Thank you. And your address?" "And I say east," said my patient. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a murdered man." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "I should like to see him very much." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could criminal. We have already had experience of such." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the chair. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he knowledge of the world." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Oh, yes, easily." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but think that he is innocent?" "But you have hopes?" Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "'What are you doing there?' he asked. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. undoubtedly my uncle's." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "What will you do, then?" to tell." the very morning of the wedding." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "I have my revolver," said I. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "'Which dealer's?' struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "When did she vanish, then?" confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter new acquaintance to Baker Street. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, look dissatisfied." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, unclasping of his long thin hands. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "No." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I me what he had done with the three missing stones. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "You have it, sir, just as it happened."