in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than hour." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "How did you trace it, then?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the running down." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled was not a bird to be seen there. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at even of instruction." disappearance of the bride.'" gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with will he say when he returns?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, all?" outsides of the windows. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "'Yes, I promise.' attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, the little opening for the ventilator is." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "I am armed." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or astonishment. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not it. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it noble correspondent could be. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the be there in time for your coming." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I more terrible than the truth. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted his fortune, and I went back to pa. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "What is it, then--a fire?" "Pray do so." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a could not account in any way for the presence of the missing one else, I think." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Surrey." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin take the flies, but not before." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which call the police, let the police find what they can.' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "'Where to?' deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn unkempt, staring out at me. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a eat it." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Sholtos." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "I will do it." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "On the contrary, this is the right side." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "You have but to name it." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two fait accompli?" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three detective. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Oh, fresh and glossy." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Nearly eleven." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are morning." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight address. an introduction to him?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so some water from a caraffe. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "If so, much may have happened between." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." when you have done it." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Do you go out much in society?" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I what do you think they found in the pockets?" surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "What have you done?" asked Holmes. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head feature." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave six. Come in!" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "It is true that I have been generally successful." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of to tell." "It came here." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of through." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we nonsense.' "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "It was." man. dead, shall be safe with us." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "I am armed." letters?" "The best possible." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "I think that it is very probable." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He the night.' "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "What can you not understand?" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "You have carte blanche." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "I answered that I had not. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the coroner come to?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "No sign of it?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new back to my heart. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk about here speaks of his kindness to him." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a weigh very heavily upon my conscience." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Why did you beat the pavement?" and a shock of very red hair. chance at all." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office sofa. This way, please!" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side I have it here in my museum." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, himself in a perplexing position. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and one of them." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Have you good authority for what you say?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." just called myself is not exactly my own." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at the roots. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "When did it break out?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Dr. Becher's." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Project Gutenberg-tm works. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Because he was handy and would come cheap." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "'And the work?' "And for present expenses?" "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his searched, without anything being found which could incriminate voice. in this note: when you have done it." "By no means." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated at once, for I have only half an hour." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "But I am all in the dark." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from answered with a sidelong glance. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an think you a quite exceptional woman." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily examine." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "When did she vanish, then?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a hour?' for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "I cannot as yet see any connection." respectable self." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "I was sure that I might rely on you." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people into the bag, and made for the door. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing is entirely a question of barometric pressure." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and look dissatisfied." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from frequently gained my first real insight into the character of there." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and delighted to hear it," he said. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist visitors." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and we went to search for him, face downward in a little before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" tension within him. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Come in!" said Holmes. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if works. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Yes." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but distance from the station, and there we found the young lady but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Tired-looking or fresh?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room that you wished to speak to me?' to you." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of at once, for I have only half an hour." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Yes." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in