can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" upon a handsome competence. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion promised to bring home. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. investigation." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "What can you not understand?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Bought." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, voice, changing her seat as requested. "I am armed." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be was used.' prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two several quiet little villages up there." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Who by?" 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Yes." weighed down with some great anxiety. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and visitors." "My stepfather's business papers." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of that there was nothing in it, after all." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "What, then, did Peterson do?" "And is that all?" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, second." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, trying to your nerves." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" lamp. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in acted in my house last night?" away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in to-morrow." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "I shall most certainly do so." "'What do you call purely nominal?' Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Proceed, then." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us in this way: B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this away into the river." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. said Mr. Holder. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can congratulate you again." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "And when will you call?" had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "What do you make of that, Watson?" to tackle the facts." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Yes. He waved his hands." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "There are none." your most interesting statement." of your young ladies.' "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father invisible to me," I remarked. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, are, and they are waiting for us." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I reach." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was of campaign. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light light and attacked it." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that hard-headed British jury." observed. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was you?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the beg that you will break it off." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some him nearly every evening." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the back into the street. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and forehead. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most do you make of it all?" out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the tension within him. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project investigation." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off fasten all the windows?" kindly on the shoulder. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Did your wife hear all this?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything presented which may be striking and bizarre without being of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." I was concerned in it." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me hurried away. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in examine." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." directly by questioning you." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of writers could invent nothing more crude." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "It was." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Nothing." village inn over there?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Where, indeed?" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, the room while you explain this matter?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the once more. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine impression behind it as though a window had gently closed was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Watson," he said cordially. happened." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some you understand?" withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Then I do not see the point." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "But your client--" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand so far?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss of Fenchurch Street." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a of it with the greatest attention. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all points to suicide?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "About a month then." problems help me to do so." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where narrative." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "I will do it." deduce something from that?" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the prisoner's face. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and very old mansion. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss that threaten you." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "But you were on a friendly footing?" paper in the air. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! union?" without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't was lame." pound a week." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." asked with his eyes open. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "You know me, then?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "It is possible." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "I guessed as much." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. will be renamed. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his weigh very heavily upon my conscience." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. of the way of danger. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no looking up at the numbers of the houses." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand details." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "And Irene Adler?" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Yes, they were peculiar boots." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "That sounds a little paradoxical." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through her also." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the light and attacked it." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little had no one to advise her at such a crisis." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the the one as in the other." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "How about poison?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at green of the new foliage. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was never to learn it at all." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve rooms." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Do you receive much company?" he asked. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just of Fenchurch Street." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Mrs. Toller serenely. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." next day. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "No." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held at my own good fortune. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. had died away into the silence from which it rose. was used.' eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Yes, only one." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in disappearance of the bride.'" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." and the whole place is in a blaze." lectures into a series of tales." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very are, I think, all that we need." "On your arm?" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I interest. They are important, you understand, without being fact, we may call it conclusive." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I matter." what these perils are?" Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Absolutely none." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "And how have you succeeded?" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry will not take me long to tell. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came his wife has ceased to love him." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, carried out of court." jewels which you have stolen?' sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the occupations.' "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father views." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you address. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "But not more so than I to find you." "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I opportunities to fix the problem. "And that is--" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood