"'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "It was an hour's good drive." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain directly by questioning you." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. not fit the lock." comes from the middle window." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable would then never go into court at all." developed." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "One horse?" interjected Holmes. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as of campaign. "Yes." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day the stable lane now." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a From what you have told me I think that it is possible that She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "This concluded the examination of the witness." "But she could not love him." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Yes." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" asked with his eyes open. "I cannot think." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Where, indeed?" flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "How do you know, then?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "My Mary? Impossible!" may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the empty. for its centre. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, that front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten o'clock is it?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as it." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely I shall continue with my miserable story. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt of them has the shutters up.' Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be during which he might have communicated with his friend the my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the bottom.' sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from bearing upon the case." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "I warn you that they are very incomplete." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "That also I could fathom." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "I cannot tell." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. in him." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their your co-operation." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first intrusion of other matters." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "No, I am descending." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes voice. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "What are they?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who back alive. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a putting in the horse. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I the dangers which encompass me." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "I cannot think." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had cheerful." noble correspondent could be. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then observed. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the direction." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Yes, sir." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for developed." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "There are none." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, death." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. not as remarkable as your advertisement." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the the best of training." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were what do you think they found in the pockets?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the visitors." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." your most interesting statement." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great daring than any effort of the imagination." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt face and glided from the room. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Street. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then right! Sit down and let us talk it over." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had been deceived." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want States. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." congratulate you again." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "9th. McCauley cleared. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any DAMAGE. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "And that is--" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been foot. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Precisely." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. other lovers by making love himself." was already answered. "How many? I don't know." asked. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "His face fell immediately. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Come in!" said Holmes. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you public press." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Never." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "I will try. What is it?" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Farm upon the left." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just the south-west, I see." before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "'I have already given you my word.' "You have a clue?" police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did his forehead." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton sofa. This way, please!" real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "And on what day did he meet his death?" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." your most interesting statement." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Just look it up, then." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then take the flies, but not before." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is that before taking the final step I should like to submit the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Yes." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square other, as fresh and trim as possible. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. entirely lost his self-respect." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not were new raised from a basin. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "The King of Scandinavia." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Because he was handy and would come cheap." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit nights." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father someone who had been in Australia." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Again Holmes raved in the air. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He to surprise her." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must without a word or a look. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Farm upon the left." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the foot. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, have got?" tail." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." interests were the same as his." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "There are none." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Yes, the wine-cellar." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of me what he had done with the three missing stones. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted be there in time for your coming." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a other means.' akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and them, and came down just as you departed. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress tail." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "No." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business done what I asked you, Jones?" central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us chance." head. So long, then!" "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, them present such singular features as the strange train of and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he pictures, libraries, or plate. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 hour." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "But how?" article?" goes." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried plantation.' "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or what I may call a really hard day's work." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all mystery." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "You are hungry," I remarked. success. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." minor matters until to-morrow." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him a few minutes he said that it would be all right. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which have I gained?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" outbreak?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small and the colonel ushered me in. wife's character?" practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue point our research must commence, and we will begin it by fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees awaited us upon the table. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I delighted to hear it," he said. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "And is that all?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that