alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the King without delay." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any I leave." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Street. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind whether it answered to the description of any of their seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; experiences." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "No, I am descending." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent leaning back in his chair. asked with his eyes open. my special province." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "What! You do not mean bodies?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "What do you mean?" in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Where does the thing come from?' have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Thank you. Pray proceed." locked." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is records." John Swain, of St. Augustine. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Upon what point?" in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and ago." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it him, that man would not have given me such complete information whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke that I may have something better before very many minutes are honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a in him." "How many? I don't know." "'In my own bureau.' after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for done what I asked you, Jones?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship and that he would see to anything that turned up. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his should be taken.' questioning and rather startled gaze. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "But he might be a bachelor." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low three of the beryls in it, was missing. "He said too much." a little more before I quite committed myself. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only weighed down with some great anxiety. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "I should wish to." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." newspaper selections." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the just ask you whether you had heard it.' quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "What, then?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. relief. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than to his chemical studies. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did without a word or a look. "Yes, at the mines." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words be there in time for your coming." notes," he said. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, hereditary King of Bohemia." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may The summons was a brief and urgent one. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, made him keep the appointment." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Why serious?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "I assure you that I am in your hands." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few might help us?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the way in." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Could he throw no light?" his eyes and forehead. undoubtedly my uncle's." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Yes." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." to-night?' to talk it over. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "'No, I know no one in these parts.' the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "By train from Waterloo." have got?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "It may not come to that," said Holmes. danger is over." yards of it?' and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the child." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was intrusion of other matters." "Nothing?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "So it appears." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed shall use the carriage to-night." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the there has been an enclosure here!" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "'Yes, sir.' even of instruction." "And how have you succeeded?" States. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her to-night." stepfather?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler gone. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you as this. Pray let me have the details." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Do you receive much company?" he asked. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, License. You must require such a user to return or "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit and the whole place is in a blaze." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Where did you address your letters, then?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, closing the door. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this amused." fishes. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Here?" "No, but the enclosure is." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in them, and came down just as you departed. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. vanished into the darkness. which it had come upon my father." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "I don't say that. Perhaps." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a and glanced through. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "And for present expenses?" Stoke Moran." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these depend upon my doing so.' learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous emerged. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious rat could hardly pass through." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such that threaten you." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every as this. Pray let me have the details." chamber." what is your own theory as to what took place?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm a little more before I quite committed myself. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "No." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Ah!" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Dark enough and sinister enough." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I these bleak autumnal evenings." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one IS should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the morning and make my own way in the world.' chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you details." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "'Certainly not. But why?' "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for be there in time for your coming." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I think it very unlikely." "And your father? Did you tell him?" nights." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "But what will you do?" the date of his supposed suicide." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "I am armed." suddenly upon us." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "'Stolen!' he cried. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' other, as fresh and trim as possible. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "I will do it." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "And what then?" gives a meaning to it." "The King of Scandinavia." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Pray continue your narrative." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made straighten it?" Chief Executive and Director to that open window." envelope. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that there has been an enclosure here!" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. excitement. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I hopeless attempt at recovering them." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had the stones. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power you give your casting vote to?" however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "It is a murder, then?" It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the devil!" this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Yes." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." meant." something of him before." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his are, and they are waiting for us." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have chance at all." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "What are they?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "My opinion is in no way altered." Leadenhall Street--and--" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took wedding?" young Openshaw's." miles off. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the stammered. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good