what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it you understand?" exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he chair. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "'No, I know no one in these parts.' There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "None." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "What, then, did Peterson do?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather with the outside air!" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did matter." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to that you saw all that I did." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards British peeress.'" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "I have hopes." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "'Ample.' me where it went to?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Imitated." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to people in all walks of life. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, ago." the one as in the other." "I am sure." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Well." name is different." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we beg that you will break it off." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "'Certainly,' I answered. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my sparkled upon his finger. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Leadenhall Street--and--" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "I cannot think." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "My photograph." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get most interesting one." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his your bag." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe open." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Just look it up, then." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without companion quietly. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "I have my revolver," said I. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I II. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "At what time?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I the one as in the other." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "That you are never beaten." "Did your wife hear all this?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every money should be paid at once.' we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you fire. You quite follow me?" have established a very serious case against the son of the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, that you saw all that I did." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, delighted to hear it," he said. man. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in to a more successful conclusion." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "On your arm?" "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Nothing." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business what I may call a really hard day's work." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from unclasping of his long thin hands. been able to understand it, in a very few words. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have dates and names. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he very morning of my second wedding." went to the Alpha were town bred." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office dramatic, in fact." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Yes, there are nearly always some there." she used." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the there has been an enclosure here!" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same possible that we could bring him back to her? my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite daring than any effort of the imagination." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town writer." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Oh, the cause is excellent!" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as call you and give you the chance." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If the King without delay." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Did he not advertise?" as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "From his hat?" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "You know me, then?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated roused himself from his reverie. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At and the colonel ushered me in. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several the inquest, and which are worth considering." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Never to return." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and crime." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." cheerful." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, instituted." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I fashion which was peculiar to him. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, is worth.' "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "None." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no child?' the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, towards the blaze. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I a little more before I quite committed myself. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Nothing." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw nonsense.' "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" fashion which was peculiar to him. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder of receipt of the work. security.' down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't soul! here is her carriage at the door." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her never came back." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "I don't believe it." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low status with the IRS. "I cannot say that I have." carriage. It was a chestnut." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after you." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. you want, then?' while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "It goes to the housekeeper's room." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Munro.' demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to just ask you whether you had heard it.' it were putty." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "To the police?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and had picked up in the wood. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all manager. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that disappearance of the bride.'" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole in the port of London." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Yes." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "The vanishing of the lady." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather would then never go into court at all." bled considerably." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too to where he stood hid behind the curtain. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Has he come with you to-night?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put the stable lane now." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had suggested at once that there must be a communication between the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a very morning of my second wedding." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even you in yours." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon nonsense.' also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the power." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks in his hands." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit it means?" "What!" he roared. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is train.' on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, London for the present?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole of the one which your family is now devouring." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought past. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and opened a pocket-book and took out a note. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his in his hands." at a side door. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon I think that I could be of assistance to you." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Yes, he did." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover everything which you would wish to know." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the house with me." "'Most admirably.' whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his excitement. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, fatally injured? "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. least a fellow-countryman. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the weighed down with some great anxiety. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Will you go?" and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Do you know him?" As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since subject to the trademark license, especially commercial arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of this remarkable episode. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded strode off upon his way. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "In the cells." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you.