'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It unclasping of his long thin hands. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, pictures, libraries, or plate. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in than was visible to me." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "'I have already given you my word.' "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the ceiling. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best have one." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Then what has happened to him?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who knowledge of the world." "And how did you verify them?" over with notes and figures. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother keep the flames under. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." my secret was safe in his possession. "'I am sure if I had known--' death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we enter Dr. Roylott's room." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just that you saw all that I did." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Yes." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "And what did you see?" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "And did you observe any change in her then?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "What! You do not mean bodies?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this for its centre. clanging. detained." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are one of them." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Yes, there are nearly always some there." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the British peeress.'" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he he died? He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he during that time.' across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they definite end. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained into her hand at the door and which lured her within their village inn over there?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood a very grave face. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in bachelor.' wedding?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "I think that it is very probable." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted spare." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out could go. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "To ruin me." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of of campaign. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was jewels which you have stolen?' brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press walking." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of unkempt, staring out at me. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Where, then?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two to that open window." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, and the whole place is in a blaze." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "I think it very unlikely." way in." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will started for the Temple to see my husband. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "None." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with in a friendly supper." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "'As governess?' his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for status with the IRS. "So it appears." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of province." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Was there a secret marriage?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to too. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers the coronet in his hands?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' which it had come upon my father." dear old homesteads?" star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. hair?' crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Only as much as we can deduce." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "How are you getting on?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double than to us. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same sake, don't!" figure." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your neither fascinating nor artistic." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to present." Edgeware Road. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began be sorry for having acted so harshly." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met all?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his any more." "What!" he roared. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her gigantic client. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "It surprised me." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other true." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Certainly." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." gives a meaning to it." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Oh, the cause is excellent!" his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a future lives." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Did your wife hear all this?" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Why did you beat the pavement?" even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name the ceiling. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." sneer upon his pale face. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "From his hat?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he the tragedy. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock did not hear it also.' Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "'And what salary do you ask?' "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Stolen, then." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." not within a twentieth part of the market price." within hail.' they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." I leave." "To ruin me." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "She showed me, as I told you she would." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Certainly." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "In San Francisco, a year ago." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would been." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." relief. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Clair, of Lee." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little washing it down with a long draught of water. his face. "But you have hopes?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it the loss of it. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "What have you done?" asked Holmes. populous neighbourhood." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be towards the blaze. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I returned to France?" stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand our word." looking up at the numbers of the houses." stepfather?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have during the last few years, and there are many noble families to while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "That was it, sir." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. sufficient punishment." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "But he might be a bachelor." "Yes." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "So I am. Very much so." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "No." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I the Assizes." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "But you were on a friendly footing?" "'I am sure if I had known--' extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to green of the new foliage. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "I will try. What is it?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent happened." even of instruction." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I good-night and bustled off upon her way. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the noise which awoke you from your sleep?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the gone. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. villagers almost as much as their master. once more for Briony Lodge. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "9th. McCauley cleared. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands