"She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Nothing." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have once more. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek careless servant girl?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "I cannot think." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the bachelor.' has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his useful material for showing traces. The double line a little loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "It missed him, then?" exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he away into the river." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between perplexity from it to my illustrious client. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." call the police, let the police find what they can.' "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and was lame." "Was she in good spirits?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in stammered. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "'About the same.' Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. or other trace. But how on earth--" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would behind me. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His galvanised. placed his cuttings. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No absorbing." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Edgeware Road. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in digesting their breakfasts at home." the date of his supposed suicide." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "But his lameness?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, call the police, let the police find what they can.' terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third strength in the others." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "And how did he make his money?" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, remarked. name is different." photograph a cabinet?" in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "But his lameness?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "'Where could I find him?' across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Your presence might be invaluable." attention." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We was used.' who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke morning." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in look upon these things in a different way." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave thin legs towards the fire. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "The vanishing of the lady." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His laugh and put his lips to my ear. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by begin with, and I had not got mine yet." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" The telegram which we eventually received came late one night wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "My own seal." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that this as likely?" though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant when your master had gone out." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come started for the Temple to see my husband. "That is possible." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Then I can wait in the next room." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "You have compromised yourself seriously." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the affair. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." as this. Pray let me have the details." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic very peculiar words of the dying woman?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the chance." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to most interesting one." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a sneer upon his pale face. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young detective. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and to affect your life." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the read over the extraordinary announcement. "'Yes, sir.' "'And the work?' "Then, how do you know?" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look to arrive at through this?" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "This photograph!" I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." the stable lane now." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "You will not go there first?" "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." him to go away.' we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows cigars in their mouths. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "And how in the world did you find them?" you give your casting vote to?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "And now?" He raised his hand. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "I promise," said Holmes. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "I promise," said Holmes. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four envelope. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his later, upon the night of May 2nd." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. the address that was given us in the advertisement. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been call the police, let the police find what they can.' VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It weigh very heavily upon my conscience." tell him that I know him to be innocent." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "'Is purely nominal.' "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the salesman. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic of campaign. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely of his shoulders. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. morning." "You know me, then?" a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "But your client--" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband impression behind it as though a window had gently closed slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "The doctor?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "'Where to?' What do you deduce from it?" at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "In heaven's name, what for?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed said I. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions matter." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. interested in these little problems, and since you are good with the outside air!" central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned it right.' afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. gone. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner must compliment you." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter his face which made him a very different person to the round, "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his down from London to inquire more deeply into it." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a gentleman's clothes. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: is so. I know all about McCarthy." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "'Yes, I promise.' "Whose house is it?" Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my think, you have already met." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "It's nothing of the kind." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "And how did you verify them?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "I say it is." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet it right.' How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. address. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Will you bet, then?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the see a sister of mine apply for." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "He said too much." Sutherland. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, behind me. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "I assure you that I am in your hands." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Won't it ring?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "I was certainly surprised to find you there." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do The police have openly confessed that they can at present make the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "'Yes, sir.' very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, you understand?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If whatever might befall. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced this man was intellectual?" help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered know all about it," he snarled. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite *** START: FULL LICENSE *** way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Not particularly." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "What!" he roared. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Yes, there are nearly always some there."