seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "And how did he make his money?" small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and purpose equally well?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "No." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of gigantic client. "An accident, I presume?" summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a written, and locked the door of the office after me. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." written. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly away to you." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present was a perfect sample of the class. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have some place of shelter and let the county police know what has from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small The summons was a brief and urgent one. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "And how?" four million human beings all jostling each other within the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us sufficient punishment." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "'Most admirably.' passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Yesterday." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded all that?" I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that bearing upon the case." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless could not account in any way for the presence of the missing quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Pray do so." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day directors, with the result that you have seen." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' was used.' my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich someone who had been in Australia." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Will you bet, then?" fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "His face fell immediately. o'clock is it?" near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every and your relations to her." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Well, some hundreds of times." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "One of his hands." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. distinguish the words: "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "How did he come?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so strength in the others." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which tell him that I know him to be innocent." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." some terrible trap for her." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Then I shall certainly come." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Very truly yours, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life here." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, so.' both be extremely obliged.' clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white writing, and yet I know it well." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "No." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "I am still in the dark." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in chemical work which was so dear to him. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "How do you know, then?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Was there a secret marriage?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "And what did you see?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" which was all perfectly true. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave on in his house." "And you thought he was pulled back?" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." existence." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, indeed which he could not unravel. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young detective. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I into the room. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally chill to my heart. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey his wife has ceased to love him." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who works. See paragraph 1.E below. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "From his hat?" you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "And how?" himself. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "About a month then." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that make me his representative both with the servants and with the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "'As governess?' "'What do you call purely nominal?' step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "But your client--" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "To ruin me." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the key of the affair now." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "It is to him that this trophy belongs." beg that you will break it off." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "And from a noble client?" "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "But to whom?" photograph a cabinet?" "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about noting anything else of interest. indeed which he could not unravel. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all she used." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the them, and came down just as you departed. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes whole matter to your consideration." be there in time for your coming." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House will not take me long to tell. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and conversation I have gathered that they have been married about disappearance of the bride.'" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed village inn over there?" "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "My photograph." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such gone before you can get him to hospital." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would this Miss Turner." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "But your client--" "It was." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "The Cedars?" in this note: obstinate." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is matter." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in status with the IRS. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend future lives." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got congratulate you again." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered keep the flames under. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major used to be." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at instituted." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "No." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Indeed! Whose, then?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King row." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the the night.' another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be away into the river." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "To an English lawyer named Norton." easy-going way." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as ordinary clothes on?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "One horse?" interjected Holmes. to have been novel and of interest." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the have established a very serious case against the son of the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over it." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train o'clock is it?" ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the