"What is it?" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this imbecility!" he cried. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Dark enough and sinister enough." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Yes." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My amused." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your true." dates and names. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a throat." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "And help." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "None. Neville wrote those words." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence since then to throw any light upon what became of him." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "And you don't know his address?" learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you behind me. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his that you saw all that I did." "I have hopes." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to have established a very serious case against the son of the with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he of them has the shutters up.' closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner case-book, which he consulted. "Certainly." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end me upon any point which I do not make clear." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you annoyance, but no jest. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "You have it, sir, just as it happened." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "I will try. What is it?" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard unclasping of his long thin hands. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Here?" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the annoyance, but no jest. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard whereabouts. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom know what is wrong with it.' wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait light and attacked it." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as indeed which he could not unravel. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just at my own good fortune. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have ceremony." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "How many? I don't know." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our is worth.' about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in coat-tails." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will of the one which your family is now devouring." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, towards the blaze. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not a few minutes he said that it would be all right. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while bed dies. Does not that strike you?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible in the dead of the night?' his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition anything to do with the matter?" the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical it." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he to-night?' eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. my former friend and companion. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." ashen face. business matters.' shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "'And the work?' good-night and bustled off upon her way. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" strength in the others." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote followed. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it think, you have already met." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. best detective that ever lived. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes cause to be." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "You have carte blanche." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "But his left-handedness." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good anything to a woman, for she would have her way." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three green of the new foliage. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Yes, it would be as well." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they them, and came down just as you departed. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Yes, it was twisted." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied companion imperturbably. chill to my heart. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" way in everything. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "A client, then?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "'Quite sure, dad.' call it cruel." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen his knees, staring into the fire. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." lost his Christmas dinner." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Ah!" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long three of the beryls in it, was missing. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "'What then?' I asked. of it with the greatest attention. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Very truly yours, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of careless servant girl?" which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "BALLARAT." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and stammered. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'How far from the body?' the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "What can you not understand?" in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did people don't know." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of His smile broadened. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." both be extremely obliged.' "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen the inner apartment." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "So it appears." later, upon the night of May 2nd." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian you." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Doctor, of the paper and the date." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we meant." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one of." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the room while you explain this matter?" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "You have compromised yourself seriously." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "By no means." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Thank you. And your address?" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Then you may be so with me." "There is the writing." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations this man was intellectual?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "What, then?" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists less than 26s. 4d. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "I have my revolver," said I. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Deserted you?" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Of Friday, June 19th." "And how have you succeeded?" impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside particular state visit http://pglaf.org "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. from the brougham. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. not fit the lock." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "And how did he make his money?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I to-night?' he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which were new raised from a basin. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I against a man in the prime of life?" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous way in everything. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "My Mary? Impossible!" 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage in. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough key of the affair now." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my very old mansion. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Eh? What was that?" inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Which are?" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate about here speaks of his kindness to him." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "But you can know nothing of this?" the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Why serious?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness question. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." union?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open characteristics, but those are the more obvious." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was him to be an active member of the medical profession." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches himself to tell his story. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "The Coroner: What do you mean? been lifted and conveyed somewhere." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "He said too much." and laid it on the table. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, the night.' To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and what is your own theory as to what took place?" lost nothing by them." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that money should be paid at once.' He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side our word." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "The doctor?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "My last client of the sort was a king." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with which should have the effect of calling the attention of the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in