examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the weary and pale-looking. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "And Irene Adler?" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." floor. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "What shall I do?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." His name is Francis Prosper." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and roused himself from his reverie. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Not him." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the me, and I could not think that his explanation of the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! that, and I came down." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said 1.E.9. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, such attractions and accomplishments?' "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the room?" village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our promised to bring home. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some developed." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Game for a morning drive?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found from the brougham. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. compunction about shooting them down." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of him nearly every evening." yet." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where acquaintance?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Where, then?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the within hail.' schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "And it is--" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and business?" delighted to hear it," he said. "Have you it here?" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are hereditary King of Bohemia." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant when you have done it." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little investigation." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be in the hope of finding them." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "And for present expenses?" transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It your room." fait accompli?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the appeal." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Dirty?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your other means.' "I think that I had better go, Holmes." excitement. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond prison!" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting wife's character?" "Have you her photograph?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." throat." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a once more to my work. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so to-night?" I asked. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the had this final quarrel? if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "No legal papers or certificates?" "The murder was done with it." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an The events in question occurred in the early days of my I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of examine." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "No. What a strange idea!" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "But of what society?" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "A call for help, you thought?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Indeed! Whose, then?" suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend stepfather?" "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly important." unkempt, staring out at me. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "And what then?" "Yes, from Horsham." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year hurried by. before the coroner and the police-court." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the hurried by. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Dr. Gregory B. Newby seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then not as remarkable as your advertisement." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Then you may entirely rely on me." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Game for a morning drive?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. this as likely?" went to the Alpha were town bred." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, straighten it?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "And Irene Adler?" the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Certainly." "I know where it is." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Does that suggest anything?" eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "But what harm can there be in that?" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of up this clue while it is still hot." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of once more for Briony Lodge. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "It missed him, then?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the His name is Francis Prosper." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Very murderous indeed." "Bought." individual and becomes the badge of a society." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; down from London to inquire more deeply into it." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "I promise," said Holmes. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter that you saw all that I did." retorted upon me, and I on you." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just beyond words. him!" wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Bought." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special confronted him. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that it." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already were wasted." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "She walked into the breakfast-room." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in that over here." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." neither fascinating nor artistic." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, attention." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and interests were the same as his." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "How did he come?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "What steps will you take?" I asked. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a detective. desk. upon the shelf for the interim." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over made his money." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Never." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was him to be an active member of the medical profession." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that and the whole place is in a blaze." the south-west, I see." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had him!" the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "And leave your case unfinished?" that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Very murderous indeed." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, notes," he said. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached bears upon the case?" basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "On Monday." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Lee, in the county of Kent." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards call the police, let the police find what they can.' note?" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Dr. Becher's." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, was a lad." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my License. You must require such a user to return or "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock all that?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, cheerful." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "I am to be neutral?" copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg chance." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "I say that I have solved it." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note with frightened eyes at his accuser. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." interested in these little problems, and since you are good whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural during the last few years, and there are many noble families to was once confined in the cab my mission was practically southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it mystery may be cleared along those lines." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of figure." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "I am sure." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" mystery." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Then he might have called to you?" "None." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "But we can't all be." you give your casting vote to?" out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?"