which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Gutenberg-tm License. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself tail." carriage. It was a chestnut." "Well, but China?" "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "You have but to name it." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By she might be summoned. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and answer." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "One?" "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of one of them." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of nothing of it?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something know all about it," he snarled. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up had this final quarrel? "What then?" time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them that, and I came down." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "No bad?" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "Then you may be so with me." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Tired-looking or fresh?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the may have an influence upon European history." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "You did not overhear what they said?" public press." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever quickly through a disagreeable task. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. the Assizes." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? rooms." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same locked." him and tried to hold him back. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Pray let us have it, for all that." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted the King without delay." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he what is your own theory as to what took place?" you." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was wedding?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. in his power. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his corner of the building. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, mystery!" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the comes from the middle window." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Witness: It was. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Never." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and what these perils are?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." room. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never generous with you in money matters.' the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "'Quite sure, dad.' "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post use an arc-and-compass breastpin." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case asked. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Where, then, is my wife?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the carpenter." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save and I shall be with you presently." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his The police have openly confessed that they can at present make miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Oh, fresh and glossy." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came disturbance in my wife." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself which our visitor detailed to us. "Perhaps I have." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the sneer upon his pale face. minor matters until to-morrow." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will right! Sit down and let us talk it over." gone. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Seven!" I answered. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "A client, then?" way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera views." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I train.' "I was certainly surprised to find you there." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Yes, from Horsham." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Very much so." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." to tell." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "I shall most certainly do so." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank imbecility!" he cried. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Then you may be so with me." maiden herself was most instructive." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the fear." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "And I to find an enemy." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible kindly on the shoulder. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be strength in the others." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a take the flies, but not before." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a security.' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece nonsense.' "My dear Holmes!" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, one else, I think." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the have accepted such a situation. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Thank you. And your address?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. may never be exposed to such a temptation." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and stepfather?" hour." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and 'I should be able to look after that for you.' of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone least a most suspicious remark." less than 26s. 4d. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an IS I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Quite so." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. existence." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he mystery!" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Indeed! Whose, then?" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, are, and they are waiting for us." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the wall." have got?" that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of next day. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how and files of the old papers, following the future career of every it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "How long did she speak to this Alice?" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Pool. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "On your arm?" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. License. You must require such a user to return or drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of cigars in their mouths. fait accompli?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Yes." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the which are rolled in Rotterdam." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Where did he live, then?" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems figure." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to London for the present?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, to a more successful conclusion." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" possible that we could bring him back to her? and capable of preserving a secret.' and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "But how?" your billet.' my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Not in the least." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "There is the writing." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "What have you to say now?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "May I see it?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird there were so many in the whole country as were brought together I am not easy in my mind about them." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely 1.F. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "What do you make of that, Watson?" "And how did you find out?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we then?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "It came here." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger ordinary clothes on?" you understand?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Nothing." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said him to go away.' number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'Certainly not.' I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, heavy and sharp instrument." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Won't it ring?" the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. in my life." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads troubles have been weighing upon his mind. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' off." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "I guessed as much." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the salesman. "No good news?" sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was made him keep the appointment." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." straighten it?" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am noise which awoke you from your sleep?" floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "In the cells." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond fire. You quite follow me?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, DAMAGE. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "'What do you call purely nominal?' One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of in the dead of the night?' do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "But his left-handedness." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Surrey." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of that I can to serve you." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an was once confined in the cab my mission was practically are, and they are waiting for us." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave better in every way that they should make their position a little in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. spark where all is dark to me." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding you in yours." "I guessed as much." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the night.' "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." correct than the official force." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement."