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Off I set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at £

1000 apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all

was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after

what I may call a really hard day's work."

"A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said

the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but

you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your

skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I

must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I

have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my

very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now."

"I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is

wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that

whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than

sufficient punishment."

XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES