opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "I should wish to." lectures into a series of tales." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life populous neighbourhood." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "'Certainly not.' than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and me." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a individual and becomes the badge of a society." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed prison!" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me business matters.' not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of case before our client came into the room." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close highly," said Holmes. instituted." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. with some details as to your case." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "What!" he roared. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." during that time.' bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door attention." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "I know where it is." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "It is no ordinary one." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the hour?' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "I will not look." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "What!" he roared. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two sit on the left-hand side of the driver." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Witness: It was. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Here?" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him of his shoulders. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want arrested. You then--" moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is is," said he presently: other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently in the dead of the night?' Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove have not had my rubber." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a fuss that is made over them." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Again Holmes raved in the air. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I fluttered off among the others. note?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "And now?" I asked. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "She told me to ask you." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with spare." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Eyford." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and hurried away. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London south, for the country is more deserted there." written, and locked the door of the office after me. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they again on its way. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily that you saw all that I did." Sutherland. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Well, but China?" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "I cannot tell." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking the nursery. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, seven miles from Eyford Station.' white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Yes. He waved his hands." the nursery. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness populous neighbourhood." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken 11:15.' "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." is so. I know all about McCarthy." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could in your London, you will know that the office of the company is business came to an end." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Of what day?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his indeed which he could not unravel. bill, which interests me deeply." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "How did he come?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and copied or distributed: VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Yes, there are nearly always some there." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Yes." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any and all of them with the keenest interest. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "A greater distance to travel." The events in question occurred in the early days of my "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in towards the blaze. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor beg that you will break it off." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed that he will be back before evening." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might which our visitor detailed to us. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "It is his hat." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "'I shall certainly be there.' always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its charged with?" the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never better grown goose." people in all walks of life. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Then what has happened to him?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." affair. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall of Mr. Rucastle's." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, once more to my work. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. joking. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those this poor creature." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards and capable of preserving a secret.' house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how here and I will read it to you: "'And the work?' colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, some terrible trap for her." what do you think they found in the pockets?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Yes. He waved his hands." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Very murderous indeed." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, dead, shall be safe with us." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your question you as to those details which seem to me to be most him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could is," said he presently: dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an that?' until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. he. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; me upon any point which I do not make clear." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I perplexity from it to my illustrious client. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Then I shall certainly come." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. redistribution. "And you thought he was pulled back?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I his forehead." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Yes, sir." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard Pope's Court, Fleet Street." learned something! Where are the gems?" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm you." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the just called myself is not exactly my own." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates problems help me to do so." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Dr. Becher's." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Holmes, the busybody!" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "And Irene Adler?" coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes legal crime." have established a very serious case against the son of the shall use the carriage to-night." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Quite so." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it mysterious end." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an carpenter." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; tightly behind him. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew floor. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled this man was intellectual?" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Quite so. She has her freedom." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help that you wished to speak to me?' "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is nothing with him." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Will you go?" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Two days later this same performance was gone through under The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "To ruin me." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and prove to be little relation between the different incidents of to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, beyond words. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while prisoner's face. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his for its centre. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Dr. Becher's." "Yes. He waved his hands." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "A thing like a cleaver," said he. father's young wife. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the dates and names. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow amused." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. enough to aid us in our search." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "'A dozen yards or so.' The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel nothing with him." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Then, as to money?" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining who was a member of your goose club." woven round him. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very His name is Francis Prosper." was shining brightly. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "That is it on the dressing-table." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted despaired of." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: