my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "You are hungry," I remarked. your troubles." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on on in his house." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the trifles." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth knowledge of the world." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally come either from the window or the door. My attention was my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the his forehead." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to several quiet little villages up there." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to disturbance in my wife." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now brought there to personate someone, and the real person is of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall at my own good fortune. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow to tell." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" past. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet are windows in it, of course?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a prison!" happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary skylight. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. the roots. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the key turn in the lock." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." in the dead of the night?' uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "We have tried and failed." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is hour." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. if I call to-morrow?" Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far that?' King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "It came here." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you off." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." delighted to hear it," he said. "I should be immensely obliged to you." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others and laid it on the table. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of empty. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "'What would be the hours?' I asked. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Munro.' entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Not him." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to down in his armchair and closing his eyes. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the http://gutenberg.net/license). helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would seen the man in the road." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little bird of prey. that, and I came down." him." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "The knees of his trousers." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "What! You do not mean bodies?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Yes, sir." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as to tackle the facts." pressing in one house as in another. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "What have you to say now?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET quickly through a disagreeable task. danger is over." "Well, but China?" "One of the highest in England." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves things are very often connected not with the larger but with the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Imitated." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold with the outside air!" "No. What a strange idea!" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "'I have already given you my word.' "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Which surely he restored to their owner?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "And who is her maid?" may have an influence upon European history." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. breakfast?" hurried away. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." DAMAGE. tension within him. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case any more." straightened it out again. his fortune, and I went back to pa. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and the tragedy. "'I am sure if I had known--' upon the white wrist. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, pierced for earrings?" in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer directors, with the result that you have seen." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take seem to you to be relevant or not." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a drove away. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" paper in the air. legal crime." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." presume?" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his points in connection with it which never have been, and probably whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "How about poison?" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When your own bird, so if you wish--" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "I warn you that they are very incomplete." could gather together that I was able to avert another public hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to in him." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything will he say when he returns?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I certainly do as you advise." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case the tragedy. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly appeal." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I was shining brightly. "And you can do nothing until then?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the your Highness to the police-station?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those clang of the bell. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "And the murderer?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at written. how narrow had been my escape. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." I. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "'Very good.' compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the ashen face. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in not as remarkable as your advertisement." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, three of the beryls in it, was missing. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "And now?" I asked. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is have an American origin." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in straightened it out again. despair." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning existence." said I. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Your French gold?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "'And what salary do you ask?' politicians who had been sent down from the North. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "What will you do, then?" who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so that he will be back before evening." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Was the window open?" beyond words. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. fat-encircled eyes. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect there were so many in the whole country as were brought together there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his with some details as to your case." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "You have but to name it." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "The Cedars?" "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey discontent upon his features. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And you?" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "I will try. What is it?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the is acting for the best. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "The doctor?" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission status with the IRS. in his power. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "And for present expenses?" strength in the others." the running down." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for in my life." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Thank you. Pray proceed." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. over part of the map. "What do you read?" I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, wife's character?" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "The murder was done with it." This is what he says: for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom carpenter." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which