few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds You can understand that this register and diary may implicate had a long day." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'I have already given you my word.' fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" opportunities to fix the problem. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a tapping his fingers upon the table. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my the one as in the other." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Was she in good spirits?" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" me. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, trying to your nerves." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential simple cases which are so extremely difficult." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the brandy and water within his reach. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "My dear Holmes!" prove to be little relation between the different incidents of they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many during that time.' considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. You want to know what became of those geese?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of to that open window." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, in one or two places in England?' that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit works. See paragraph 1.E below. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in all-comprehensive glances. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom strong reason behind." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a me what he had done with the three missing stones. strength of mind to control. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and ceremony." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking morning." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed woman." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 astonishment. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Yes, but only for you and me." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "When did it break out?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "My last client of the sort was a king." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just to have been novel and of interest." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They copied or distributed: greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might opportunities to fix the problem. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of place of silver." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method fled together." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "But what will you do?" "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "My opinion is in no way altered." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a important." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother investigation." "If so, much may have happened between." "Yes, from Horsham." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "In what way?" asked Holmes. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "I will get her to show me." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the formed some opinion?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon Project Gutenberg-tm works. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Has he come with you to-night?" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "But how did you gain them?" which we had just quitted. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his again before evening." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia events, Mr. Windibank!" the night.' idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she in darkness. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "The murder was done with it." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that points to suicide?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we presented more singular features than that which was associated "It is very kind of you." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very redistribution. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "And on what day did he meet his death?" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns noting anything else of interest. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no without a word or a look. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had will take you up to see the machine.' consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith During two years I have had three consultations and one small and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I answer." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't points in connection with it which never have been, and probably to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Who by?" understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a without a word or a look. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Where is it, then?" "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss guilty parties." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will fatally injured? "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' details." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "Then, as to money?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were man. I know him from the photograph." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will this as likely?" "You think so, too?" their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his dramatic, in fact." "'I am sure if I had known--' "What have you done?" asked Holmes. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in was lame." "But you have hopes?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to lost his Christmas dinner." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." despaired of." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'Certainly not. But why?' "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Why, what do you mean?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Yes." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one have one." "I will not look." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Heh?' grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing him to go away.' the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "She walked into the breakfast-room." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "But to whom?" fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "I am following you closely," I answered. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, clanging. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and fire. You quite follow me?" tail." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the child." people in all walks of life. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a occurred." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at train from Paddington which would bring you there at about undoubtedly my uncle's." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), mysterious end." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Texas, I think." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought second." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we distance from the station, and there we found the young lady tassel actually lying upon the pillow. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "But how did you gain them?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "No bad?" shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was to some other building. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "'Yes.' of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "It is no ordinary one." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the could go. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "'There is a drive, then?' time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "And why in hopes?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had Holmes." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "'Yes, sir.' Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your be sorry for having acted so harshly." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 go--none." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by that I can to serve you." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "But your client--" "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that business?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a the coronet at all injured?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I From what you have told me I think that it is possible that All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back before, for it was considerably after midnight. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored train.' considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I business." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "I am sure." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Dirty?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "BALLARAT." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at were wasted." green of the new foliage. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at correct than the official force." "How did that help you?" "Then he might have called to you?" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "It is no ordinary one." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent opportunities to fix the problem. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." amused." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards felt?" "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I