dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." forbidden door. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to families. Now for the facts. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Who was the criminal, then?" stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left never will be, entirely cleared up. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Yes." national property. I was determined that the law should have its wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in had no one to advise her at such a crisis." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "I say it is." green of the new foliage. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of she has been waylaid. There has been no result." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! recover the gem." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial of the vacancies.' As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Munro.' "I am still in the dark." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend was lame." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want in the hope of finding them." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" orange pips. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger written, and locked the door of the office after me. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I friend's singular character. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working the King without delay." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any business." What do you deduce from it?" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform drawing your inferences." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign father's young wife. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his chambers. main points of my analysis." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get the salesman. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Of Friday, June 19th." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a was a perfect sample of the class. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons it means?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "The gentleman I describe." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very is," said he presently: occurred." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss goes." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "I have come for advice." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "I am about to be married." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work was a loud and authoritative tap. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "I would give my fortune to have them back." "That also I could fathom." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The their singular warning or token before them when starting upon the one as in the other." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or little adventures." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my absorbing." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted out." detective. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, occupations.' paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From as he folded up the epistle. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "What do you mean?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "It missed him, then?" ashen face. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "I know where it is." that, and I came down." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the inner apartment." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was narrative." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to I have it here in my museum." "'Why that?' I asks. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "In heaven's name, what for?" "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Dark enough and sinister enough." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "And who is her maid?" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'Where to?' Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that The telegram which we eventually received came late one night shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat ordinary clothes on?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. this remarkable episode. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "And the cigar-holder?" prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "You have the photograph?" "Dirty?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen go--none." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of o'clock is it?" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "None." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "We must have a cab." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is have got?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. did not hear it also.' that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There outbreak?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I the window, rose as we entered. Mary, has deserted me." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Witness: It was. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Tired-looking or fresh?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my shall use the carriage to-night." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "I am armed." "'What, the red-headed man?' chambers. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. the salesman. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "No good news?" Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "The murder was done with it." "Entirely." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Look there!" said he. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without certainly not very gracious." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged the child." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such ventilator." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "No." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Yes. He waved his hands." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the danger is over." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I Countess of Morcar's?" common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all next day. "Why serious?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and in the dead of the night?' sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." I have it here in my museum." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City new duties?' walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "But what will you do?" himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "It goes to the housekeeper's room." mystery!" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that back alive. as this. Pray let me have the details." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place respectable self." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he away to you." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "You did not overhear what they said?" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry fuss that is made over them." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "It must be recovered." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Upon what point?" little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Never to return." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one to where he stood hid behind the curtain. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his in a very precise fashion." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Do you know him?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who it." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to ways of our fellow-men." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now or in danger--" mystery!" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural you in yours." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some crime." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left not use it unless it is absolutely needed." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Pray let us have it, for all that." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "What have you to say now?" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who child?' Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been guilty parties." "What then?" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a were new raised from a basin. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Very truly yours, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have bears upon the case?" are, I think, all that we need." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "It is very clear." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the leaning back in his chair. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. the so-precious time, but come!' observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns