side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings within hail.' confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of the devil!" to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, so far?" demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "The landlord of the Alpha." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, lips." "What!" he roared. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "No bad?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "And what did you see?" that he will be back before evening." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment The telegram which we eventually received came late one night standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side signal between you and your father? "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you light and attacked it." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are chemical work which was so dear to him. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret will find little credit to be gained out of this case." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable approach us with offers to donate. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "I have come for advice." "Certainly." upon the shelf for the interim." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss legal crime." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to lectures into a series of tales." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that them present such singular features as the strange train of "Not yet." official police." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "What?" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Mary, has deserted me." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "He said too much." "She showed me, as I told you she would." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and upon the white wrist. any little problem which you may submit to me." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a lost his Christmas dinner." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, weary and pale-looking. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She speckled band?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you subject to the trademark license, especially commercial I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked of his shoulders. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't the coronet in his hands?" destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the if she died from some sudden fright." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and breakfast." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I place no limit on the sum I may draw." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, than was visible to me." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There the loss of it. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "My dear Holmes!" "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I Lestrade of Scotland Yard." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to threw himself down with his face to the pillow. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much train from Paddington which would bring you there at about problems help me to do so." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "But your client--" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the gbnewby@pglaf.org to change my dress. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project it were putty." "My dear Holmes!" the tragedy. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I cannot tell." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This weapon." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "The knees of his trousers." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have My friend smiled. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the other means.' public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Farm upon the left." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Really! You surprise me." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was three fields round his house, and there he would take his the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "My dear Holmes!" "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Well, it is a possible supposition." I approached. me upon any point which I do not make clear." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "None." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "I cannot tell." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 now. It seems that there had been some informality about their that you saw all that I did." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's indeed which he could not unravel. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of and have this put in the evening papers." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for The summons was a brief and urgent one. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my likely to be some crony of the landlady's." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, business?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "In answer to an advertisement." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "Did you observe the colour?" "'There is a drive, then?' chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's gentleman's clothes. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. occurred." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm to-night." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Who by?" pound a week." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H learned something! Where are the gems?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "But I am all in the dark." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Ten will be early enough." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over trifles." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without death." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began now. It seems that there had been some informality about their the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "His face fell immediately. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. asked. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to only touch the interest." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." photograph a cabinet?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "'I am sure that I do not know.' has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes handed it to him. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her meanly of me." tied." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I and glanced through. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the presented more singular features than that which was associated "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the village inn over there?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the friends, not even his own brother. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, careless servant girl?" I nodded again. "You have but to name it." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, any little problem which you may submit to me." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, him. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of it. upon the white wrist. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all money should be paid at once.' "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Ha! you find it so?" and effective." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else hardly wander." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "And help." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in should be taken.' which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I have solved it." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote closing the door. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "May I see it?" whereabouts. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at you in yours." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced not fit the lock." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them she slowly sank and died without having recovered her some place of shelter and let the county police know what has drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can is worth.' "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements keep the flames under. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was quick march!" for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole leaning back in his chair. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I to his chemical studies. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very when your master had gone out." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may hurried away. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Certainly." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "But the mystery?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." enter Dr. Roylott's room." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Perhaps I have." danger is over." electronic works "And it is--" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "No more words. Get out!"