"Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That chance at all." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "No, my brougham is waiting." "On your arm?" "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler works. See paragraph 1.E below. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Perhaps I have." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the coronet at all injured?" Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out nothing with him." "Was he the only applicant?" morning." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" the stones. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Then the page we have seen--" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned papers diligently of late, have you not?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'Ample.' importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are about. "What have you to say now?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, my room." tension within him. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." side. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "What do you make of that, Watson?" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out married her." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike persecution?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when been." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would lids now and glanced across at his visitor. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as morning." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried him." note?" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," even of instruction." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon morning." that you can jump it.' very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." the date of his supposed suicide." round with crates and massive boxes. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when colonel looking down at me. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working following enigmatical notices: the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a not as remarkable as your advertisement." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either room?" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. this poor creature." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith until night should bring an explanation. was it brought him the coronet? when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave at my remark. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley morning." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square to Leatherhead. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." the tragedy. corner of the building. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater not as remarkable as your advertisement." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "And leave your case unfinished?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in she to prove their authenticity?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "'And the work?' in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Yes." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be his eyes and forehead. where she found matters as described by the last witness. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable the coronet at all injured?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' in the hope of finding them." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." case-book, which he consulted. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "This photograph!" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Pray do so." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises asked with his eyes open. meanly of me." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Come in!" said he. "'Stolen!' he cried. "No, I had a dozen." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am and prosperity to your house. Good-night." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's papers on the sundial.'" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close that you can jump it.' sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he such attractions and accomplishments?' applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds you?" of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "The doctor?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. and a shock of very red hair. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning my little problems." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I strode off upon his way. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to place no limit on the sum I may draw." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "And did you observe any change in her then?" acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than it." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I question you as to those details which seem to me to be most cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the running down." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "It goes to the housekeeper's room." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my must be when I saw the door open.' you?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' telegram would bring me down to your help." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of towards the blaze. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously comes from the middle window." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he have an American origin." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so questioning and rather startled gaze. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt through." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than himself to tell his story. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open carried out of court." when you have done it." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Not I." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa once more. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in of this gang." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the are, I think, all that we need." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. present." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always humiliation." whether it answered to the description of any of their behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is have not had my rubber." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who the house with me." "Not yet." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "But you have hopes?" "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. the coroner come to?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical golden eyeglasses. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I one which it was hard to resist. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Not social, then?" located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." present." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" opportunities to fix the problem. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her taking in every detail of the apartment. third from London." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything papers diligently of late, have you not?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great in this note: reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which on in his house." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, will be renamed. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and noting anything else of interest. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "There are none." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and from the brougham. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "I see no marks." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "No." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" thin legs towards the fire. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to paper in the air. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. returned to France?" "Your presence might be invaluable." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. to tackle the facts." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. You want to know what became of those geese?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, considering the formidable letters which were received by himself off." get her out of the way." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I