conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of of campaign. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Not I." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he deduce something from that?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right instituted." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Is he quiet?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "That is it on the dressing-table." lumber-room." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Yes, the wine-cellar." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he and your relations to her." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes the coronet in his hands?" plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss think that any burglar could have done. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the best of training." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock you, my dear young lady?' that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco wanted for ourselves." disturbance in my wife." with frightened eyes at his accuser. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the a room. of it with the greatest attention. Count Von Kramm." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "'Oh, no.' civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "You are all wrong." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Then I shall certainly come." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got humiliation." hardly wander." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "And now?" He raised his hand. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "That's no good." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "And you thought he was pulled back?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Pray do so." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Yes." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Where, then, is my wife?" quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said ways including including checks, online payments and credit card story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at examine." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "But you were on a friendly footing?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "You saw the ventilator, too?" paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little hereditary King of Bohemia." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a awaited us upon the table. Chief Executive and Director no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards observed. memory. "In San Francisco, a year ago." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a prove to be little relation between the different incidents of cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do do.' very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of reach." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and with some details as to your case." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the side-table." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my any." "Absolutely?" shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of stammered. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I cannot say that I have." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no it." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that giving me time to thank him. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Very truly yours, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Yes." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. that he will be back before evening." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing tell me that you intended to go into harness." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Witness: It was. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "May I see it?" way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled are windows in it, of course?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly late." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "And Miss Sutherland?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the annoyance, but no jest. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "I will, Miss Turner." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. was a loud and authoritative tap. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "He might." views." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his key of the affair now." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De interest. They are important, you understand, without being flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Why did you pick him?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "My stepfather's business papers." and I shall be with you presently." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "No, thank goodness, she did not." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an existence." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." was shining brightly. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. I approached. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no to have been novel and of interest." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, about here speaks of his kindness to him." mystery!" Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "'You cannot say what it was?' once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Where, then, is my wife?" "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, in his hands." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did heavy and sharp instrument." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face soul! here is her carriage at the door." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Do you go out much in society?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw the devil!" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing about here speaks of his kindness to him." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Nothing." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to breakfast." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I me, and I could not think that his explanation of the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the coroner come to?" "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the lumber-room." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to business came to an end." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "None." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "You have the photograph?" "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "'I shall certainly be there.' himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I whereabouts. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as strode off upon his way. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his train from Paddington which would bring you there at about one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and visitors." "I am armed." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "No, my brougham is waiting." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to to arrive at through this?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of status with the IRS. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "You forget that I know nothing about it." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another cause to be." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" paper in the air. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "'Yes, it was gone.' his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "But his lameness?" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but ready to-morrow?' the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. grasp, he hurried from the room. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Pope's Court. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the not as remarkable as your advertisement." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out had picked up in the wood. next day. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Yes." "I should like to see him very much." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found me what he had done with the three missing stones. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Arthur Conan Doyle experiences." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and easy-going way." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could spare." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his certainly do as you advise."