"From East London. What do you deduce from that?" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of to a more successful conclusion." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all room?" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has eavesdroppers?' and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got could go. as he remarks, very much against the son." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime gbnewby@pglaf.org he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the thin legs towards the fire. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Two days later this same performance was gone through under and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at father's place of business?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my the so-precious time, but come!' "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my round and wave him away like that.' with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not and effective." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time not fit the lock." "No, I had a dozen." "I think it very unlikely." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had closing the door. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "That was it, sir." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind and that he would see to anything that turned up. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of you do it in twenty minutes!' from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he trifles." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Get out!" said he. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "And that is--" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, points in connection with it which never have been, and probably noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and yards of it?' free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was be.' anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." Doctor, of the paper and the date." telegram would bring me down to your help." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just always that they were such commands as a lady might with recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather heavy and sharp instrument." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural here and I will read it to you: "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Seven!" I answered. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring time." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest be.' moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "I say it is." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "You horrify me!" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "I am all attention, madam." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the bill, which interests me deeply." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "And how have you succeeded?" He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been head. So long, then!" said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for something of him before." in one or two places in England?' grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and that he will be back before evening." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been make me his representative both with the servants and with the through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Yes, at the mines." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on the child." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out arrangements." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with friends, not even his own brother. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and very old mansion. "So I have heard." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to already been minutely examined." mystery!" get the tickets." three of the beryls in it, was missing. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "He is still with you, I presume?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some the iron safe, which he closed upon it. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "But she could not love him." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a you." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. you?" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting became a certainty. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" his face. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Married! When?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily a little more before I quite committed myself. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he because she had spent so short a time in this country that she With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the records." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told front of me. your own bird, so if you wish--" even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" during that time.' specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "And why in hopes?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "I fear not." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Again Holmes raved in the air. orange pips. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. already been minutely examined." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' door?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle evidence," I remarked. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Well." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in pressing in one house as in another. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw For additional contact information: "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off question. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "I say it is." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird the south-west, I see." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the with you?" somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we lamp in his hand. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any of campaign. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Stolen." hour." opened the door, and slipped through. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." confronted him. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with shoulder. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. asked. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Then how many are there?" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "My private note-paper." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "I see many objections to any such theory." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of once more to my work. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of bears upon the case?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He respectable self." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "And for present expenses?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "You'll never persuade me to believe that." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some some place of shelter and let the county police know what has whether it answered to the description of any of their his eyes and forehead. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold do.' "Nothing." purpose of examination. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "I am about to be married." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through gbnewby@pglaf.org "Do you know him?" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, horse could go." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, amused." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the see me here to avoid scandal." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed I approached. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low had no one to advise her at such a crisis." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "How did that help you?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." my special province." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I went to the Alpha were town bred." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that see me here to avoid scandal." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" the child." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Then what has happened to him?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Yes." "I assure you that I am in your hands." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of father's young wife. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I it." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. security.' jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case and have this put in the evening papers." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Yes, that is the Crown." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "You heard nothing yourself last night?" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "You horrify me!" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square entirely devoid of interest." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your I nodded to show that I had heard. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "No good news?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran to his chemical studies. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a wall." "He said that you could solve anything." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad people don't know." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Always." happened." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start