"But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes crime." "But to whom?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure happened." kindly on the shoulder. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he unkempt, staring out at me. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" directors, with the result that you have seen." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after fishes. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "But not more so than I to find you." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted and have this put in the evening papers." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would events than those which have happened in my own family." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a astonishment. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Awake, Watson?" he asked. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "My last client of the sort was a king." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his records." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to sound at heart." "My stepfather's business papers." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Yes." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might father's young wife. "Yes." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "A call for help, you thought?" you." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Yes, at the mines." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of more solid." child?' he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. were unconscious?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal together. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "It is very kind of you." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, said Mr. Holder. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you than to us. awaited us upon the table. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "'I have heard so.' away in different directions, and I went off to make my own he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Did your wife hear all this?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I felt the room to be a little close.' "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the little opening for the ventilator is." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "'What, the red-headed man?' "I will do it." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "It missed him, then?" from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both believe that I should never have any practice at all. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two fattened it expressly for you.' really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was impression behind it as though a window had gently closed its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "And sit in the dark?" gentleman's clothes. arrangements." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Certainly." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful once more to my work. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "And how did you verify them?" desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "My opinion is in no way altered." that, and I came down." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "No, finished." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." to me. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Mary, has deserted me." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock writers could invent nothing more crude." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should so.' "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, have got?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight so far?" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account it were putty." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side your equipment. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait the inquest, and which are worth considering." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. and it need not interfere very much with one's other perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, even of instruction." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I respectable self." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than wedding?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was pound a week." empty. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and 11:15.' "No legal papers or certificates?" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Absolutely?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "No." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Yes, at the mines." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Never to return." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the standing smiling on the door-step. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to as yours." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to horse could go." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who one of them." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "No?" "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern there!' course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De security.' "You don't mind breaking the law?" depend upon your compliance." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or matter." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "But I have heard all that you have heard." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Witness: I must still refuse. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "I say that I have solved it." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler mysterious business." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "That is easily got." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of stood on the top of it. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his read over the extraordinary announcement. allusion to a rat. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a matter." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs examination of the premises, but without finding anything which I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place where Mr. Fordham shows you.' official police." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they on in his house." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is fled together." "Then, how do you know?" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Holmes' face clouded over. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is as the one I chose?' Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Pray do so." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting there was no need for father to know." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, said he at last. other lovers by making love himself." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Just look it up, then." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "No." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off wedding?" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "I answered that I had not. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any goes." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so get the tickets." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low might have a private word with us. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "It's nothing of the kind." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get take the flies, but not before." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "I should like to see him very much." "That sounds a little paradoxical." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "You did not overhear what they said?" gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "'Certainly not. But why?' seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You the ceiling. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Then what has happened to him?" of fine shops and stately business premises that they really vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "No." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This have had none more fantastic than this." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "And you can do nothing until then?" "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of written. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high redistribution. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls father's young wife. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are nothing of it?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "'And what salary do you ask?' first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the with the outside air!" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike note?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the dates and names. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "I do." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "About a month then." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, lips." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted brandy and water within his reach. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a was not a bird to be seen there. goes." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. be there in time for your coming." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Was your sister dressed?" "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective was keenly on my guard against him. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "You think that he is dead?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a this Miss Turner." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the morning." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." sneer upon his pale face. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client It may be so in this case, also." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "'Oh, no.' window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I following enigmatical notices: in the dead of the night?' common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she James Windibank. Voilà tout!" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the fuss that is made over them." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually the so-precious time, but come!' "Entirely." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. done what I asked you, Jones?"