"He said too much." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand business?" delirious. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will During two years I have had three consultations and one small which I could not give. He asked for Alice. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Pray continue your narrative." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek again, where I was soon asleep. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." will be renamed. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Street. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at me what he had done with the three missing stones. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. in the dead of the night?' part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue to-night?' Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit observed. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "The landlord of the Alpha." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among three of the beryls in it, was missing. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have where Mr. Fordham shows you.' It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Yes." Surrey." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of note?" afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "My own seal." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "No." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Certainly." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Come in!" said he. meanly of me." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from to a light-house. "Stoke Moran?" said he. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "What, then, did Peterson do?" power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" tapping his fingers upon the table. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of ordinary clothes on?" photograph?" "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Come in!" said Holmes. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so But Holmes shook his head gravely. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I colonel looking down at me. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. too. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom secret." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous you." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." to Leatherhead. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "One?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. new acquaintance to Baker Street. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a infinite languor in his face. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "It looks newer than the other things?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to second." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to giving me time to thank him. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me late." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly crowd. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "I have solved it." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in read over the extraordinary announcement. present." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "It looks newer than the other things?" vanished into the darkness. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" bonnet, and went out." union?" the bed, and you in that chair." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "I have come for advice." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at the running down." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the detained." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "But how did you gain them?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate fattened it expressly for you.' Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see friends, not even his own brother. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I am about to be married." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, the devil!" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly case before our client came into the room." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I am following you closely," I answered. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a it." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "'And the work?' sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Yes, but only for you and me." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire useful material for showing traces. The double line a little present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "That's no good." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Holmes." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of room. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "I would give my fortune to have them back." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose looking up at the numbers of the houses." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Get out!" said he. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was and shall probably return to London by the evening train." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I certainly do as you advise." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously man. someone who had been in Australia." tapping his fingers upon the table. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four one of them." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." of the way of danger. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that you in your example." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the house with me." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Very much so." "I will try. What is it?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon she slowly sank and died without having recovered her had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. redistribution. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's you want, then?' age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my new acquaintance to Baker Street. your billet.' "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to in his hands." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Nothing." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous other lovers by making love himself." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I shall be delighted." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." it right.' "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "At what time?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab frequently gained my first real insight into the character of point our research must commence, and we will begin it by brought there to personate someone, and the real person is object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a least a most suspicious remark." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Yes." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" that?' dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "By train from Waterloo." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to villagers almost as much as their master. was keenly on my guard against him. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "So I have heard." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. you in your example." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with have established a very serious case against the son of the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Will you bet, then?" excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled is so. I know all about McCarthy." within hail.' laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight child?' "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and which I could not give. He asked for Alice. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "Not particularly." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended written. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may legal crime." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Cross for the Continent." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "I have my revolver," said I. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "What! Had he lost his wife?" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "'What, the red-headed man?' round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. records." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "No." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "It is possible." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Pool. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little orange pips. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but hands. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Young McCarthy must be got off, however." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Pray be precise as to details," said he. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned His smile broadened. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest this as likely?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of to talk it over. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "No, I had a dozen." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an one else, I think." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Then you may entirely rely on me." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We showing my impatience. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to then?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "She will not sell." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Pray continue your narrative." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has and all of them with the keenest interest. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Doctor, of the paper and the date." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his 1.E.9. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "I have solved it." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "You will not go there first?" were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as