Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive your billet.' man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Street. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "And you thought he was pulled back?" of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "And for present expenses?" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is carpenter." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my go--none." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "The King of Scandinavia." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "'I have already given you my word.' One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "But we can't all be." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "'What do you call purely nominal?' propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about been deceived." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his go back?" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "My dear Holmes!" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the to change my dress. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that do.' knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, whole matter to your consideration." "No." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. My friend smiled. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and compunction about shooting them down." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple whereabouts. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too morning." "Where to?" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in cigars in the box." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very tied." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The fasten all the windows?" cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Very well, sir. And this stone?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed letters?" Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "But what will you do?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "What!" he roared. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "'Why that?' I asks. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the both be extremely obliged.' "What is it, then--a fire?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Yes, at the mines." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "I fear not." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Project Gutenberg-tm works. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "I think that it is very probable." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the know what is wrong with it.' Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, done what I asked you, Jones?" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Oh, yes, easily." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "I have my revolver," said I. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my the coronet in his hands?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I was it brought him the coronet? bled considerably." instincts rose up against that laugh. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my may never be exposed to such a temptation." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Nothing?" considering the formidable letters which were received by himself himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "How often?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a delighted to hear it," he said. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not hair?' not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Holmes rather sternly. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on point in the dark hollow of his hand. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "The vanishing of the lady." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "By no means." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Come in!" said he. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had distinguish the words: such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all bled considerably." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and upon an income of about 60 pounds." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this felt the room to be a little close.' difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." manager. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. stalked out of the room. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's outside." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement here." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Certainly, madam." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon formed some opinion?" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "What then?" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "But you have hopes?" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm ways including including checks, online payments and credit card upon the shelf for the interim." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, like gravel from a pit.' direction." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Heh?' "How about poison?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in works. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "My photograph." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. strength in the others." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "I saw her in conversation with her maid." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The other lovers by making love himself." door?" held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me several quiet little villages up there." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Then, how do you know?" this as likely?" persecution?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did your bag." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "It certainly sounds feasible." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "I have solved it." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A disappearance of these gems?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing fatally injured? has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I detective. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said served to weaken the effect. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he think that any burglar could have done. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I front of me. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Pray be precise as to details," said he. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right approach us with offers to donate. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Entirely." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Yes, that is the Crown." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous to tackle the facts." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "On the contrary, this is the right side." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go which it had come upon my father." views." always that they were such commands as a lady might with difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they you do it in twenty minutes!' for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "No." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that that before taking the final step I should like to submit the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong think you a quite exceptional woman." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "'Is purely nominal.' have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful there when the Rucastles went away." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Thank you. Pray proceed." cause to be." "I see no marks." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the learned something! Where are the gems?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "'I have already given you my word.' "Then how many are there?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark hardly wander." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a was a lad." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Yes." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told way: prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. closing the door. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Not I." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a outbreak?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked fuss that is made over them." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." before the coroner and the police-court." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My made him keep the appointment." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Really! You surprise me." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me again before evening." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. my little problems." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual pierced for earrings?" "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an present." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "'And what salary do you ask?' A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Pray continue your narrative." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried the south-west, I see." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from how narrow had been my escape. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of dear old homesteads?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded one else, I think." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I nothing of it?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off said he. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "'Oh, no.' hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you shoulder. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." envelope. shoulder. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. there when the Rucastles went away." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen."