therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, hereditary King of Bohemia." "Pray let us have it, for all that." "But I am all in the dark." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my writer." in the port of London." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, gbnewby@pglaf.org at once, for I have only half an hour." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her of this gang." "If I can be of use." My friend smiled. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his were wasted." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired for its centre. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "What shall I do?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'What do you call purely nominal?' reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I leaning back in his chair. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an lectures into a series of tales." she might be summoned. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of his grey eyes. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive and a shock of very red hair. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom the little opening for the ventilator is." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Thank you. And your address?" the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. face and glided from the room. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they envelope. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay troubles have been weighing upon his mind. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before better grown goose." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in been deceived." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. this man was intellectual?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a the loss of it. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his fat-encircled eyes. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself the one as in the other." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "VIOLET HUNTER." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the society." "Was the window open?" grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I them present such singular features as the strange train of trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come You want to know what became of those geese?" "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "'Which dealer's?' "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year breakfast?" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, chance at all." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. to his chemical studies. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. could go. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason never to learn it at all." "Not I." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white be sorry for having acted so harshly." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a done what I asked you, Jones?" breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all train.' not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had nonsense.' "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "No, I had a dozen." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point you for a few hours?" long narrative. McCarthy." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was call you and give you the chance." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Yes." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "My own seal." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "What! Had he lost his wife?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and distinguish the words: "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in there were so many in the whole country as were brought together than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction door?" "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his said he. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where from you?" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, sparkled upon his finger. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was John Swain, of St. Augustine. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere which are rolled in Rotterdam." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as acquaintance?" from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." have I gained?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in have been better. It is all right." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very and the colonel ushered me in. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "But to whom?" congratulate you again." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': chemical work which was so dear to him. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "That's no good." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Yes, sir." "Ten will be early enough." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must you." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Then the page we have seen--" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and to a more successful conclusion." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "You will not go there first?" He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and occurred." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you confronted him. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added vague figure huddled up in the darkness. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham of receipt of the work. go from here to the Strand." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been over here." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah tassel actually lying upon the pillow. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "And who is her maid?" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the done what I asked you, Jones?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent tell them apart.' "I saw her in conversation with her maid." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable way: public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of criminal. We have already had experience of such." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, questionable one." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "And what then?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Did your wife hear all this?" the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond there!' explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "No legal papers or certificates?" "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "9th. McCauley cleared. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the window, rose as we entered. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the me what he had done with the three missing stones. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with young Openshaw's." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her my special province." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." and glanced through. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were towards the blaze. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "No." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, bled considerably." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "'Then let me do so?' "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed woman." disappearance of these gems?" of them has the shutters up.' case before our client came into the room." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at signal between you and your father? once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Perhaps we may make them less so." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried envelope. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a him and tried to hold him back. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Well." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "I will not look." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a garden below. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in The King stared at him in amazement. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered disturbance in my wife." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for quickly through a disagreeable task. touch that coronet?' "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to His smile broadened. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to morning." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My to miss it." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to fled together." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "What, then, did Peterson do?" happened." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, jewels which you have stolen?' recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an placed his cuttings. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "What shall I do?" "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "In the cells." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must chill to my heart. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I one of the states of the Union." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Always." "She told me to ask you." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "But we can't all be." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. you for a few hours?" apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We said he, "my real name is James Ryder." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "But how?" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second breakfast and whispered something to her husband. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you