his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of crackling voice. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the a room. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the awkward doing business with an alias." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have was not a bird to be seen there. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "At the wedding breakfast." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Stoke Moran." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "I do." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where strode off upon his way. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how article?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "How many? I don't know." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a village inn over there?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End coat-tails." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we friend's singular character. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in she used." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "She showed me, as I told you she would." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, call it cruel." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do use an arc-and-compass breastpin." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire roused himself from his reverie. something of him before." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the strength in the others." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain you want, then?' "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you he died? surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "But of what society?" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better the coronet at all injured?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "And did you observe any change in her then?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only was keenly on my guard against him. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 was it brought him the coronet? interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "'What, the red-headed man?' There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Yes." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his is so. I know all about McCarthy." fait accompli?" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. hands. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave other, as fresh and trim as possible. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "I should wish to." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "And is that all?" "My last client of the sort was a king." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Miss Holder?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "What is it?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Yes." "The King of Scandinavia." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Will you go?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "And you can do nothing until then?" approach us with offers to donate. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Munro.' he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had burst out into a roar of laughter. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused certainly not very gracious." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl ceremony." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "I do." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father sofa. This way, please!" details." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without drawing your inferences." just called myself is not exactly my own." "'What, the red-headed man?' her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which you." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is October 9, 1890. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook sooner or later she must fall a victim. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from despaired of." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his straightened it out again. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what without a word or a look. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met quickly through a disagreeable task. it." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Where did he live, then?" in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "I warn you that they are very incomplete." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it carriage. It was a chestnut." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses the warnings." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "And on what day did he meet his death?" in his power. to some other building. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the window, rose as we entered. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked your most interesting statement." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Was he the only applicant?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his occurred." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the tied." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "'How far from the body?' "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second light and attacked it." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "You are hungry," I remarked. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, and a shock of very red hair. would apply.' "I shall most certainly do so." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Your presence might be invaluable." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "'Certainly not.' that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what fishes. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "And your mother is alive?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "I cannot tell." me. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Oh, the cause is excellent!" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped outsides of the windows. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. hereditary King of Bohemia." Street. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "A call for help, you thought?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this him to go away.' The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own you in yours." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy he died? to-night's adventure." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. secret." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, behind me. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." fashion which was peculiar to him. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "My Mary? Impossible!" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "But she will refuse." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, Holmes' face clouded over. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms these bleak autumnal evenings." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently of the efforts of the United States government and of the better of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I own family. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken geese which you supplied to the Alpha." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." are windows in it, of course?" persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "It is solved." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is unprofitable." "No, I had a dozen." "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Then I can wait in the next room." prison!" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Arthur Conan Doyle words came to my lips. "Not social, then?" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his young Openshaw's." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite fat-encircled eyes. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached feature." few hundred pounds.' "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a and the colonel ushered me in. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Where, then, is my wife?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may feature." again before evening." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to felt?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Holmes, the busybody!" "Can I be of assistance?" family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this taking in every detail of the apartment. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows hurried away. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the know all about it," he snarled. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the bled considerably." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Yes." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a could go. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "So it appears." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman even so self-evident a thing as that." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Can I be of assistance?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we use an arc-and-compass breastpin."