"For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." touch that coronet?' into the bag, and made for the door. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him events than those which have happened in my own family." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Thank you. And your address?" in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation families. Now for the facts. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "To ruin me." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips joking. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding house for five minutes.' strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my union?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the door?" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us bed dies. Does not that strike you?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was discontent upon his features. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "A thing like a cleaver," said he. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his His name is Francis Prosper." you?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and three of the beryls in it, was missing. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Yes, but only for you and me." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," because she had spent so short a time in this country that she It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Then I do not see the point." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all opened a pocket-book and took out a note. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those your troubles." from the brougham. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous get the tickets." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "An enemy?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire was a loud and authoritative tap. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Not in a good cause." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Henry Baker is a member." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible address. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "Game for a morning drive?" presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "What will you do, then?" "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "A confidential servant?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake before the coroner and the police-court." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke if only as a check to my own memory." "But how?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Not I." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler voice. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. copied or distributed: he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the date of his supposed suicide." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of fear." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my followed. it were putty." the house with me." despair." awkward doing business with an alias." quick march!" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND goes." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same nothing with him." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "And what did you see?" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Dr. Becher's." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows once more. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Which are?" power." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "We have tried and failed." "No. What a strange idea!" four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Always." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "What! Had he lost his wife?" even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood do you make of it all?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one hurried by. cup of tea. examine." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "I came to find a friend." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, of the vacancies.' branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, sufficient punishment." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Heh?' peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from the coronet in his hands?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Foundation nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I for securing the situation." "Certainly." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "He is dead," cried several voices. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "An accident, I presume?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the character. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "Did he not advertise?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses late." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but this Miss Turner." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your present strange and interesting features that it is no easy distinguish the words: was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Yes?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of just ask you whether you had heard it.' nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My out of this horrible affair." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them fattened it expressly for you.' order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed upon a handsome competence. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "I shall be delighted." What do you deduce from it?" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in mysterious business." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'Then let me do so?' "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no the house with me." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There breakfast and whispered something to her husband. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the side. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran congratulate you again." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "What I expected to see." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but six. Come in!" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so whatever might befall. o'clock is it?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must confronted him. "Well?" the dangers which encompass me." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck lips." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "My opinion is in no way altered." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words way: and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong that he will be back before evening." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is thin legs towards the fire. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the business?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "I cannot imagine." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of upon a handsome competence. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "You forget that I know nothing about it." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the depend upon my doing so.' him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no open." fact, we may call it conclusive." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a during that time.' "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle might help us?" "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew empty. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Cross for the Continent." instincts rose up against that laugh. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "You forget that I know nothing about it." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "No." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the companion. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was signal between you and your father? eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open rooms." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was murdered man." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "'I am sure that I do not know.' a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that himself in a perplexing position. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "A client, then?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Not yet." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to bird of prey. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium crowd. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that walking." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Witness: Nothing definite. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest notes," he said. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" you." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. your Highness to the police-station?" 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he exactly what you advise." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "And how did you verify them?" "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the