fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a have one." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "And you don't know his address?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Farm upon the left." you?' upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the observed. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I breakfast." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great views." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "She will not sell." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "No?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet the one as in the other." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "'Stolen!' he cried. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who stepfather?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man in the hope of finding them." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered foot. photograph?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that certainly do as you advise." "Come in!" said he. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "I am sure." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there mystery." "Then I am your man." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and silent! Oh, he will be silent!' roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the indiscretion." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Do you receive much company?" he asked. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that all?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I might have a private word with us. "And it is--" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." highly," said Holmes. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, the coronet in his hand?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." closely." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt him!" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an call the police, let the police find what they can.' over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns see me here to avoid scandal." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of it. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Here?" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" his huge brown hands. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what gentleman's clothes. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. kindly on the shoulder. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "I came to find a friend." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "'Stolen!' he cried. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Witness: It was. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really know all about it," he snarled. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I so.' fled together." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for noble correspondent could be. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "What is it?" about. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "But she could not love him." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have corner of the building. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and gone. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." our word." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I am armed." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view companion quietly. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is should be so warm over such a trifle." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project as the one I chose?' before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this done what I asked you, Jones?" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations way in everything. "But to whom?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he that he will be back before evening." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "What have you done?" asked Holmes. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. shoulder. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "'Why that?' I asks. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER depend upon your compliance." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "What have you done?" asked Holmes. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search guilty parties." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Countess of Morcar's?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods quickly through a disagreeable task. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "But he might be a bachelor." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The late." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "The rest you will leave in our hands." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was some city in a dream. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "My dear Holmes!" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "This concluded the examination of the witness." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "You think that he is dead?" This is what he says: "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in against a man in the prime of life?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, whole matter to your consideration." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and McCarthy." dramatic, in fact." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up place of silver." meanly of me." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the ceiling. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "It was an hour's good drive." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "'I have heard so.' "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" the Red-headed League." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "What shall I do?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day case-book, which he consulted. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her things are very often connected not with the larger but with the man. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some soul! here is her carriage at the door." "What office?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it unprofitable." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing and your relations to her." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my face and glided from the room. noble correspondent could be. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her in one or two places in England?' of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the him!" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Did you become engaged then?" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away himself to tell his story. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have forehead. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "But your client--" this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in of campaign. "My dear Holmes!" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "I cannot imagine." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. relief. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been and have this put in the evening papers." "'Yes, I promise.' slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened you do it in twenty minutes!' along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had writer." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can said he. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the said he. "It is very kind of you." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of to-night?" I asked. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "I have solved it." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "That is unusual in a young girl." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, and prosperity to your house. Good-night." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which attention." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my you?' (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could advice." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had kind enough to tell me what I should do." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight to a light-house. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the emerged. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I occurred." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "I don't say that. Perhaps."