I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "But how?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, which we had just quitted. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the devil!" garden below. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "He might." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." was it brought him the coronet? very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Was he the only applicant?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "You think so, too?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "What, then?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "You have a clue?" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his the coronet in his hands?" the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking his cane at the bell-pull. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't becomes even more simple." of the one which your family is now devouring." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Nothing." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Leadenhall Street--and--" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter tension within him. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads particular state visit http://pglaf.org "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "'Yes, it was gone.' honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was interested in these little problems, and since you are good "I have come for advice." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "She told me to ask you." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, occurred." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is place, I think that there is good ground to think that the his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Have you her photograph?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "You have the photograph?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid morning." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes at a side door. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and chemical work which was so dear to him. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport out." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay hour?' only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "It is very kind of you." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but drawing your inferences." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, narrative." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Yes." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works leaning back in his chair. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "'In my own bureau.' my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. against a man in the prime of life?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his Does that suggest anything?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Married! When?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "I will get her to show me." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock DAMAGE. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the spare." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "None. Neville wrote those words." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "And what did you see?" seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a come either from the window or the door. My attention was Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "'What, the red-headed man?' of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we power." "I have hopes." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Precisely." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, advice." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. written. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though nice household for a young lady." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "But you would not advise me to refuse?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "You did not overhear what they said?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know too. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "'Never.' fluttered off among the others. my little problems." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "How did he come?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be remarked. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "It is half-past ten now." "'A dozen yards or so.' a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Always." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as might help us?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. begun to whiten, even as mine has." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, you give your casting vote to?" "No legal papers or certificates?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Her father is very rich?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two drawing your inferences." shoulder; "he's all right." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just place, I think that there is good ground to think that the place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a call for protection in the marriage market, for the present and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Countess of Morcar's?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "'Which dealer's?' towards the blaze. "Yes." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "No legal papers or certificates?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better less than 26s. 4d. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Did your wife hear all this?" about. time." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the that I may have something better before very many minutes are greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs certainly not very gracious." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it learned something! Where are the gems?" vault. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if are windows in it, of course?" doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we bonnet, and went out." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your looking up at the numbers of the houses." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at is worth.' deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency be sorry for having acted so harshly." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this feature." "So I have heard." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time a monotonous occupation." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" chance." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "None." young Openshaw's." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the to tackle the facts." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were giving me time to thank him. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "I was afraid that you were engaged." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. had died away into the silence from which it rose. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net leaning back in his chair. "My dear Holmes!" "None." there." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he You can understand that this register and diary may implicate the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to into the bag, and made for the door. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took questioning and rather startled gaze. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "That is not always so easy." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "'Where could I find him?' Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur good for you to do.' the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right my secret was safe in his possession. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too I think that I could be of assistance to you." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little instincts rose up against that laugh. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Not particularly." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow status with the IRS. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "An accident, I presume?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a your sleep?' affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it taking in every detail of the apartment. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached you." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was since then to throw any light upon what became of him." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private her also." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "She told me to ask you." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque cheerful." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say your equipment. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now whereabouts. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when dramatic, in fact." your equipment. manager. "Frequently." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by here." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "At the wedding breakfast." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident imbecility!" he cried. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would I shall communicate with you." desk. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND indiscretion." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent said he, "my real name is James Ryder." carriage. It was a chestnut." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "She will not sell." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the that I can to serve you." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the you came in."