have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. later, upon the night of May 2nd." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about in my life." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City to affect your life." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "That is unusual in a young girl." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Witness: I must still refuse. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet manager. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might straightened it out again. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which just called myself is not exactly my own." went to the Alpha were town bred." this Miss Turner." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed detective. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a noting anything else of interest. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "But it has twice been burgled." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised have not had my rubber." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "'Ample.' "'What, the red-headed man?' chamber." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "I was sure that I might rely on you." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste himself in a perplexing position. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round waste of energy." vanished into the darkness. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, certainly do as you advise." chance." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to one or two very singular points about this room. For example, seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Really! You surprise me." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, prisoner's face. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very so far?" face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a was keenly on my guard against him. do you make of it all?" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found vanished into the darkness. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive future lives." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "How often?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Perhaps I have." crime. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing families. Now for the facts. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door that you wished to speak to me?' signal between you and your father? hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, stood on the top of it. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black him. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Why did you pick him?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has attention." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official rat could hardly pass through." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'Then let me do so?' through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "'I have already given you my word.' recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much see a sister of mine apply for." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who fear." said he. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Then he might have called to you?" "And Miss Sutherland?" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have until night should bring an explanation. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just a good hundred miles off by now." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "I say it is." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was occurred." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "The King of Scandinavia." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew cheerful." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the heavily into it. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated the stones. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that the stones. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Yes." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "'There is a drive, then?' strong reason behind." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon kindly on the shoulder. tapping his fingers upon the table. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, business in the City. She little knew what. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I back to my heart. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is then?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and existence." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Perhaps we may make them less so." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "But you have hopes?" elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "I came to find a friend." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose cigar and let me expound." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk of note-paper. It read in this fashion: not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification because she had spent so short a time in this country that she India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Tired-looking or fresh?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the Pool. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go must compliment you." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian relief. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down address. "My photograph." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom shaken than I had ever seen him. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and and wait." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She your only hope of safety." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before From what you have told me I think that it is possible that accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she you do it in twenty minutes!' hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk congenial hunt. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from be best to do. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "BALLARAT." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed horse could go." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I and the whole place is in a blaze." in his hands." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the villagers almost as much as their master. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "'And the work?' of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Pray do so." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I and all of them with the keenest interest. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. room had already been engaged for us. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. himself in a perplexing position. security.' centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some room had already been engaged for us. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I was afraid that you were engaged." pierced for earrings?" "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third sofa. This way, please!" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "'Which dealer's?' "But you were on a friendly footing?" in. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to Lestrade of Scotland Yard." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Quite so." rat could hardly pass through." "There is the writing." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' round with crates and massive boxes. "You think so, too?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "But how will you look?" the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "But how did you gain them?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "You think so, too?" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then all?" "And Irene Adler?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Foundation minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "What?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we had formerly been in part my own. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you whatever might befall. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon vanished into the darkness. to arrive at through this?" constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "In the cells." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. do." "About a month then." go--none." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' felt?" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can opportunities to fix the problem. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "That also I could fathom." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A might have a private word with us. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'It is locked up,' I answered. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "But what is it you wish?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "No, thank goodness, she did not." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "'Where could I find him?' Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told taking in every detail of the apartment. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not on re-entering her father's house?" The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being sufficient punishment." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "None." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Nothing?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a But Holmes shook his head gravely. "I will get her to show me." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "If I can be of use." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "At what time?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of relation between them, and what the object of his repeated affection." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened when your master had gone out." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully