"This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "And how did you verify them?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. interests were the same as his." "That also I could fathom." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. noting anything else of interest. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to details should find their way into the papers. Inspector son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that sufficient punishment." him. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "ARAT," I read. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Of what day?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Street. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." observed. "Never to return." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity developed." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "I promise," said Holmes. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. was not a bird to be seen there. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy But Holmes shook his head gravely. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make Holmes rather sternly. burst out into a roar of laughter. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted this remarkable episode. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" me what he had done with the three missing stones. "This photograph!" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the tragedy. them present such singular features as the strange train of "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "I promise," said Holmes. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Because he was handy and would come cheap." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight tightly behind him. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to delirious. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried again, where I was soon asleep. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "'Where to?' buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front companion. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and up this clue while it is still hot." one of them." "Did you become engaged then?" "And for present expenses?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "That is unusual in a young girl." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew papers diligently of late, have you not?" brandy and water within his reach. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, pierced for earrings?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Yes, only one." purpose equally well?" vault. all that?" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of lost nothing by them." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly may have an influence upon European history." call the police, let the police find what they can.' At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for me. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "'And the work?' other means.' results." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own in my life." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who stammered. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. again before evening." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my derbies." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he business?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Her father is very rich?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Not social, then?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "If so, much may have happened between." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "You think so, too?" I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "That's no good." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "On Monday." spark where all is dark to me." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Dirty?" straighten it?" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several ashen face. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as have had none more fantastic than this." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We me, and I could not think that his explanation of the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "One horse?" interjected Holmes. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very husband's writing, madam." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Sholtos." page at http://pglaf.org the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "So I am. Very much so." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked house for five minutes.' of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "'Then let me do so?' shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his me, and I could not think that his explanation of the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had not use it unless it is absolutely needed." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." thirty. "Why serious?" space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted present." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It of." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "And I to find an enemy." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I purpose of examination. even of instruction." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Precisely." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside only touch the interest." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. me." was a perfect sample of the class. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in were unconscious?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself bonnet, and went out." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of been." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had could go. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. her also." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, husband's writing, madam." chambers. breakfast." me. You must get home instantly and act." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had four million human beings all jostling each other within the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the stammered. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." is four-and-twenty." business matters.' The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar Doctor, of the paper and the date." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "And when will you call?" "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything For additional contact information: "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. was shining brightly. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "You have but to name it." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of way in everything. of Mr. Rucastle's." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. be sorry for having acted so harshly." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the States. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "I am following you closely," I answered. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "He might." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream where Mr. Fordham shows you.' the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" you?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my forbidden door. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. politicians who had been sent down from the North. "It surprised me." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "In what way?" asked Holmes. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Were they all fastened this morning?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. towards the blaze. his forehead." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of the so-precious time, but come!' outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "'Certainly,' I answered. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway sneer upon his pale face. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we conclusions. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he more terrible than the truth. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Why did you pick him?" exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. again, where I was soon asleep. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Doctor, of the paper and the date." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. such attractions and accomplishments?' There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his him, that man would not have given me such complete information endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you approach us with offers to donate. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "We must sit without light. He would see it through the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate outside. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "You have carte blanche." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. third from London." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram least a fellow-countryman. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way the window, rose as we entered. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "ARAT," I read. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the stood on the top of it. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "I have seen the police." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "'Certainly not. But why?' "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "I would pay ten." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Of what?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "May I see it?" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the address that was given us in the advertisement. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable and the church but not where the lady lived." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and