colour had been driven from his face. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, side. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" comes from the middle window." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "None. Neville wrote those words." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? he died? perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a people in all walks of life. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "I think that it is very probable." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Her father is very rich?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." records." "I was sure that I might rely on you." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a fashion which was peculiar to him. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been his face which made him a very different person to the round, for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and that threaten you." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be outside. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight weighed down with some great anxiety. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Oh, yes, easily." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was upon the white wrist. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled carried out of court." leaning back in his chair. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute other, as fresh and trim as possible. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Why, what do you mean?" the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "'What are you doing there?' he asked. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "'There is a drive, then?' dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Pope's Court. bearing upon the case." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I he. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has he bowed and left the room without another word. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently your bag." cigars in their mouths. absorbing." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in prisoner's face. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know entirely devoid of interest." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to eavesdroppers?' A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Frequently." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Nearly eleven." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" late." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. in this note: always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Certainly." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he few hundred pounds.' "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." The summons was a brief and urgent one. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Nearly eleven." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It came here." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "When did it break out?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "No, thank goodness, she did not." "It is possible." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the grasp, he hurried from the room. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the fuss that is made over them." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "His face fell immediately. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Then I am your man." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "It is to him that this trophy belongs." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and public press." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may arms and began to sob in a high treble key. just ask you whether you had heard it.' sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Chief Executive and Director "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give forehead. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "'And the work?' brandy and water within his reach. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See started for the Temple to see my husband. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "No more words. Get out!" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no the station." fear." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over is a common subject for conversation. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make look upon these things in a different way." "Yes." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, matters immensely." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Then you may entirely rely on me." joking. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion appointment with me for six o'clock?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "I have solved it." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding obstinate." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your hand, madam?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Whose house is it?" "My private note-paper." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was shoulder; "he's all right." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right him!" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Yes, at the mines." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Yes, the wine-cellar." said he. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his became a certainty. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the points in connection with it which never have been, and probably is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall records." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect girl said." do you make of it all?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if of the efforts of the United States government and of the better London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Really! You surprise me." "An enemy?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your appointment with me for six o'clock?" the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to always that they were such commands as a lady might with "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left to a more successful conclusion." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. weighed down with some great anxiety. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our them, and came down just as you departed. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." nonsense.' some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "One horse?" interjected Holmes. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "No sign of it?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "The rest you will leave in our hands." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "It was." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Very much so." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" discontent upon his features. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Yes, the wine-cellar." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and waste of energy." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had outside." place of silver." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to colour had been driven from his face. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Just look it up, then." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might she used." that he will be back before evening." asked with his eyes open. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double arrangements." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in this poor creature." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a over part of the map. "What do you read?" one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you your Highness to the police-station?" "And is that all?" which we had just quitted. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or questioning and rather startled gaze. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has new acquaintance to Baker Street. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Murdered?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I have seen the police." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face disappearance of these gems?" pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still of your young ladies.' "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the tell him that I know him to be innocent." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came drove away. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Chief Executive and Director wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Leave Paddington by the 11:15." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "By no means." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through will be renamed. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged it. used to be." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some away in different directions, and I went off to make my own I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "That is possible." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I upon an income of about 60 pounds." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will stepfather?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of bachelor.' down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "What!" he roared. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "He might." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon standing smiling on the door-step. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "You forget that I know nothing about it." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of