is so. I know all about McCarthy." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it which our visitor detailed to us. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Precisely so. But how--" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless sparkled upon his finger. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his is acting for the best. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the question. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, better in every way that they should make their position a little "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and your only hope of safety." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together excitement. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "No good news?" "Whose house is it?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the persecution?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to in him." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "May I see it?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts my former friend and companion. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing have one." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Did your wife hear all this?" unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the so-precious time, but come!' little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "No good news?" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend it." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" enter into my head. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had photograph a cabinet?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a happened." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining 1.E.9. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "To an English lawyer named Norton." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ 1.E.9. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas his forehead." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "At the wedding breakfast." said I. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have place no limit on the sum I may draw." window when the police appeared." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Was she in good spirits?" Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself sufficient punishment." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to upon the sideboard." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no be sorry for having acted so harshly." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to point in the dark hollow of his hand. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Never." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any quickly through a disagreeable task. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where chair. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." business at Coburg Square is serious." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. as he remarks, very much against the son." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you you do it in twenty minutes!' "Ample." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' I approached. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I infinite languor in his face. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate see me here to avoid scandal." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story not as remarkable as your advertisement." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out deduce something from that?" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we that he will be back before evening." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you made his money." would then never go into court at all." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be was lame." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm even of instruction." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "What! Had he lost his wife?" The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Certainly." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did bearing upon the case." "'Where could I find him?' wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Perfectly so." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "'Certainly not.' gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "But it has twice been burgled." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most arrested. You then--" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Deserted you?" "That is possible." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Who by?" himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his matters immensely." south, for the country is more deserted there." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled to some other building. "Is he quiet?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Precisely." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "I think that it is very probable." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Was your sister dressed?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I she to prove their authenticity?" conceal it?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office the coronet in his hands?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do highly," said Holmes. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been detained." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to Mrs. Toller serenely. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "How did you trace it, then?" mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson feature." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to row." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "My Mary? Impossible!" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Holmes' room. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." occupations.' "I have a cab outside." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Not in the least." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "It was a confession," I ejaculated. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his This is what he says: he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "You will not go there first?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical awkward doing business with an alias." could go. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "You saw the ventilator, too?" the stones. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in flock.' several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my man. I know him from the photograph." the Red-headed League." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall conversation I have gathered that they have been married about overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried man. "Precisely." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over upon an income of about 60 pounds." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "I cannot say that I have." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should stammered. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "'What would be the hours?' I asked. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Well." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so them?" acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. against a man in the prime of life?" "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I cost them two and thirty pounds." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly call for it in person on Monday morning.' highly," said Holmes. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "'What, the red-headed man?' careless servant girl?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I guilty parties." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard down. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Holmes." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the question. only touch the interest." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "How can you tell that?" way in everything. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the wedding?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Yes." affection." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "But you can know nothing of this?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled