several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have down. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think in. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "But not more so than I to find you." in this note: "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "And when will you call?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "You will not go there first?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "So I have heard." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Was there a secret marriage?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest are windows in it, of course?" "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "But not more so than I to find you." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by in a very precise fashion." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "I think that it is very probable." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can upon the shelf for the interim." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him know all about it," he snarled. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, interests were the same as his." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of himself to hunt down. amused." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "'What do you call purely nominal?' house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "My dear Holmes!" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "If I can be of use." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us six. Come in!" "The murder was done with it." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "But what will you do?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such bell. Holmes whistled. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "My last client of the sort was a king." sneer upon his pale face. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the floor. vault. been." forebodings. Literary Archive Foundation compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of everything which you would wish to know." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them place of silver." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. nonsense.' and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper one which it was hard to resist. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we details should find their way into the papers. Inspector with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good anything to a woman, for she would have her way." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Yes, sir." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "And you can do nothing until then?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of asked with his eyes open. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea said I. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I call you and give you the chance." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical question," said Holmes, smiling. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "How can you tell that?" to his chemical studies. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" house for five minutes.' Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar this man was intellectual?" status with the IRS. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed heavy and sharp instrument." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all shall use the carriage to-night." "The doctor?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the public press." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some of the one which your family is now devouring." towards the blaze. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence with you alone." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a Heh?' trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he business matters.' "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Dark enough and sinister enough." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Yes, he did." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Ha! you find it so?" appeared upon the scene." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she residence of the great financier. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite crowd. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger ceremony." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "You have the photograph?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, seen the man in the road." next day. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as sofa. This way, please!" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Did he not advertise?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "'Most admirably.' Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Yes, I have one waiting." open." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged and no precautions can guard against." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this footfalls from the street. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "You have the photograph?" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that on re-entering her father's house?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "And I." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "'Is purely nominal.' beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in weapon." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will which it had come upon my father." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of desk. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's which it had come upon my father." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we washing it down with a long draught of water. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" bearing upon the case." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the as noiselessly as she had come. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "We were both in the photograph." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was written, and locked the door of the office after me. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which detained." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a chance at all." "Then you may entirely rely on me." highroad, where all traces were lost. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "And how did you find out?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very kind enough to tell me what I should do." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "Thank you. And your address?" "My private note-paper." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having to tell." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "What have you to say now?" the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of events, Mr. Windibank!" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Then I am your man." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "What! Had he lost his wife?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "'Certainly,' I answered. "But I am all in the dark." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Chief Executive and Director "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb everything which you would wish to know." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the the Red-headed League." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall that you wished to speak to me?' "Why serious?" "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Nothing." him to be an active member of the medical profession." derbies." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To back into the street. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches were new raised from a basin. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood purpose of examination. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "He said too much." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Perhaps we may make them less so." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There see a sister of mine apply for." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "I don't believe it." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and business matters.' with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Yes, sir." better in every way that they should make their position a little as yours." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Not yet." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is some water from a caraffe. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not bedroom door." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. posted to-day." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" October 9, 1890. emerged. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well intrusion of other matters." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Then I shall certainly come." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" thin legs towards the fire. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient DISSOLVED. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Deserted you?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which even so self-evident a thing as that." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we letters?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary congenial hunt. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an your Highness to the police-station?" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "And what then?" arrangements." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that she might be summoned. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" constraint." business at Coburg Square is serious." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the one else, I think." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Did you become engaged then?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "'Never,' said I. companion imperturbably. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. matter." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to to have been novel and of interest." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, true." how narrow had been my escape. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note,