shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the What do you deduce from it?" face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on it means?" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight the one as in the other." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three to Leatherhead. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his from you?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the respectable self." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' to have that photograph." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave sparkled upon his finger. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better them, and came down just as you departed. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "But who is he?" the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could it. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "But your client--" whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! shoulder. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and the matter?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You whether it answered to the description of any of their not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "And Miss Sutherland?" from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. article?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, of campaign. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where stepfather?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with his grey eyes. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey in a very precise fashion." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "And how did he make his money?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for plantation.' "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I am all attention, madam." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess During two years I have had three consultations and one small mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. Holmes' room. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of made him keep the appointment." your equipment. and laid it on the table. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Gutenberg-tm License. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she be.' "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in with her." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, fasten all the windows?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon him nearly every evening." heavily into it. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a tightly behind him. "So I have heard." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked burst out into a roar of laughter. should be taken.' and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'Is purely nominal.' "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "'Where to?' to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "And I." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "On your arm?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then me, and I could not think that his explanation of the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Stolen." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Breckinridge is his name." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one British peeress.'" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "In the cells." his huge brown hands. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." records." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Where did you address your letters, then?" "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his door?" Miss Holder?" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with gbnewby@pglaf.org suspect him." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Mary, has deserted me." meant it for the best. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There prepare for the new role I have to play." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "That is it on the dressing-table." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was was lame." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Stoke Moran?" said he. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we she might be summoned. redistribution. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from was once confined in the cab my mission was practically comes from the middle window." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "The Coroner: What do you mean? "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "'Never,' said I. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Game for a morning drive?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "That is possible." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager asked. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" photograph a cabinet?" "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "I have solved it." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after the so-precious time, but come!' front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was my secret was safe in his possession. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT asked with his eyes open. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And goes." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some clang of the bell. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some the coroner come to?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from matter." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "When did she vanish, then?" "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "And it is--" Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in himself. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I not fit the lock." "Nothing?" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with place no limit on the sum I may draw." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "'You cannot say what it was?' "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little forbidden door. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his confronted him. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman correct than the official force." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry again before evening." them?" companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." next day. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they presume?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are 'I should be able to look after that for you.' way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "What, then, did Peterson do?" everything which you would wish to know." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "You horrify me." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you standing smiling on the door-step. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I have hopes." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the himself to hunt down. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just trifles." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. will he say when he returns?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, whereabouts. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all weigh very heavily upon my conscience." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, three of the beryls in it, was missing. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "I don't say that. Perhaps." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it the running down." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried bare slabs of marble. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the skylight. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' laugh and put his lips to my ear. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and anything to a woman, for she would have her way." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "How are you getting on?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Absolutely none." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "'I have already given you my word.' "Was your sister dressed?" for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Certainly." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: the matter?" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "What!" he roared. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Nothing." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more have I gained?" hopeless attempt at recovering them." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were the so-precious time, but come!' were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a second window is the one that I jumped from." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "To an English lawyer named Norton." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "It is very clear." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by present strange and interesting features that it is no easy of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it examination of the premises, but without finding anything which your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate in your London, you will know that the office of the company is knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "That is it on the dressing-table." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply article?" piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Pray do so." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it be sorry for having acted so harshly." charge against him will break down." "But of what society?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless so.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she hopeless attempt at recovering them." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't