silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the one as in the other." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. could gather together that I was able to avert another public suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss during the last few years, and there are many noble families to be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. politicians who had been sent down from the North. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "One?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this south, for the country is more deserted there." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Do you go out much in society?" You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "And what then?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Where does the thing come from?' and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "In heaven's name, what for?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little some place of shelter and let the county police know what has did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith go back?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what to go into your room and bar your shutters?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we keep the flames under. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and tell him that I know him to be innocent." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs think that he is innocent?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." done what I asked you, Jones?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. him to go away.' compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "What will you say?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the I approached. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if American. Then who could this American be, and why should he I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "But how?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a colonel looking down at me. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me disappearance of these gems?" reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "That is possible." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Yes, certainly." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general me, and I could not think that his explanation of the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should plantation.' "Deserted you?" and no precautions can guard against." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Yes." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was hopeless attempt at recovering them." "No more words. Get out!" "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards photograph?" "The vanishing of the lady." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. burst out into a roar of laughter. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian your Highness to the police-station?" (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every brought there to personate someone, and the real person is itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both it." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "I am armed." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Will you go?" Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "You are hungry," I remarked. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "What can you not understand?" hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes green of the new foliage. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you to a more successful conclusion." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled to some other building. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, future lives." "How did you deduce the select?" not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' ill-usage at the hands of fortune. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" emerged. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let jewels which you have stolen?' grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you know that the truth is known." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "How did he come?" such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "I cannot as yet see any connection." outside." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally bled considerably." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "He said that you could solve anything." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the attention." take the flies, but not before." "Ten will be early enough." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "At the wedding breakfast." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that these bleak autumnal evenings." "No, but the enclosure is." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "And what did you see?" latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "I saw her in conversation with her maid." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of memory. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large possible that we could bring him back to her? d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Dirty?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Nor running a chance of arrest?" tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, 1.F. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, see a sister of mine apply for." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, charge against him will break down." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too to take care of herself." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Your presence might be invaluable." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." appointment with me for six o'clock?" strength in the others." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "It goes to the housekeeper's room." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "What! Had he lost his wife?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She was shining brightly. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of where we are going." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "That is possible." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless Pope's Court. relief. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly orange pips. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "I do." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Was your sister dressed?" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "That was it, sir." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door me. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "But how will you look?" "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "I was afraid that you were engaged." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and no precautions can guard against." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "That is not always so easy." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Yes, sir." "'What do you call purely nominal?' from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Street. success. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I Street. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and without success. At last the little money which I had saved began months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat see a sister of mine apply for." "That's no good." mystery may be cleared along those lines." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far bedroom door." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "But you can know nothing of this?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. opened the door, and slipped through. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, electronic works laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and could not have written that. It is the German who is so "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. matters immensely." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would husband's writing, madam." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent beyond words. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, go from here to the Strand." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "'Ten to two.' since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. friend's singular character. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Nothing." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'Yes, sir.' the coronet at all injured?" charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the to take care of herself." intrusion of other matters." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for orange pips. affection." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "In answer to an advertisement." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "And the cigar-holder?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning to you." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "It certainly sounds feasible." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the was it brought him the coronet? top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change orange pips. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar leaning back in his chair. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. if she died from some sudden fright." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did there!' cigars in their mouths. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. Heh?' eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Certainly." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the to me. have been better. It is all right." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "No." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "And I." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "No." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such careless servant girl?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to noise which awoke you from your sleep?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my undoubtedly my uncle's." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the such person." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate could go. "Then I do not see the point." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too joking. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" other means.' license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them