street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at outsides of the windows. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most outsides of the windows. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "And the murderer?" "Certainly." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be allusion to a rat. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not it means?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal your own bird, so if you wish--" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own completely overtopped every other consideration that we both year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of waste of energy." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland October 9, 1890. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before vanished into the darkness. populous neighbourhood." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was His smile broadened. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "It's nothing of the kind." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "But not more so than I to find you." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'Why that?' I asks. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take of the vacancies.' give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the there when the Rucastles went away." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment goes." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of chair. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his client, rising. again before evening." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what long narrative. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was country, and eventually married, without anyone having a good for you to do.' heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Indeed! Whose, then?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "So I have heard." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a started for the Temple to see my husband. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Entirely." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for o'clock is it?" out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "The doctor?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Will you bet, then?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and any." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "'Yes.' Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. evidence," I remarked. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "At half-wages, in fact." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their my room." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's it? Did I buy the geese off you?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "And how did you verify them?" copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most could go. in darkness. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. was lame." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not tell them apart.' and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." relief. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for man. easy-going way." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a wedding?" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His amused." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the astonishment. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be careless servant girl?" "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went indeed which he could not unravel. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as breakfast." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is colonel looking down at me. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "The Cedars?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Why, what do you mean?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after has little to do with my story." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely This is what he says: and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our outbreak?" our word." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in to-night?' wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Never." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. the driver. corner of the building. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. particular state visit http://pglaf.org "On the contrary, this is the right side." "I have come for advice." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "And on what day did he meet his death?" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the served to weaken the effect. face and glided from the room. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I affair. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the drawing your inferences." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my few hundred pounds.' to affect your life." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an wanted for ourselves." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what along the entire front of the house, with three long windows in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It we went to search for him, face downward in a little several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Lestrade of Scotland Yard." way: red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "What of the rat, then?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular colonel looking down at me. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it learned something! Where are the gems?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from I shall continue with my miserable story. obstinate." business at Coburg Square is serious." in my life." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Because he was handy and would come cheap." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, along the entire front of the house, with three long windows be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new feature." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR direction." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Yesterday." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the II. "And Miss Sutherland?" followed. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save exactly what you advise." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the which we had just quitted. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and your troubles." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just such attractions and accomplishments?' when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black him to go away.' with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. mystery!" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." is a common subject for conversation. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, villagers almost as much as their master. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency been anything against him. He had for years been known as a direction." "Yes?" "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled gone. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the chemical work which was so dear to him. "It must be recovered." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "And what then?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she presume?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "'Yes.' shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had have not had my rubber." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Yes, there are nearly always some there." you understand?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Yesterday." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot bed dies. Does not that strike you?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do companion. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I true." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "You think that he is dead?" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Where, then, is my wife?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I of your young ladies.' 'please.'" was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Eh? What was that?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "What do you make of that, Watson?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Yes." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Because he was handy and would come cheap." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the go from here to the Strand." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "And now?" He raised his hand. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "And now?" He raised his hand. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' lost his Christmas dinner." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. a very grave face. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Yes." "But his left-handedness." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf indeed happy." approach us with offers to donate. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over the very morning of the wedding." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, presented more singular features than that which was associated and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the a very grave face. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked was lame." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing