we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. face and glided from the room. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "What! Had he lost his wife?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. even so self-evident a thing as that." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular to where he stood hid behind the curtain. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to existence." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and meant." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that way: she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be Leadenhall Street--and--" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of figure." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I careless servant girl?" disappearance of these gems?" a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, the driver. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I happened." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "'It is locked up,' I answered. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began ran thus: "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so kindly on the shoulder. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to tail." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no shag which I had seen upon the previous night. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull standing smiling on the door-step. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "You were travelling in the States?" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Where does the thing come from?' face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and digesting their breakfasts at home." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same just called myself is not exactly my own." "Was there a secret marriage?" be.' "It surprised me." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "I came to find a friend." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so best detective that ever lived. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely something of him before." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Nothing?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, place no limit on the sum I may draw." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Pray be precise as to details," said he. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as closing the door. "Stoke Moran?" said he. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have lost his Christmas dinner." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means closely." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush fashion which was peculiar to him. Dr. Gregory B. Newby something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. you." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a married her." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to had picked up in the wood. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a second." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "The best possible." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a what I may call a really hard day's work." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to the King without delay." our word." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." to take care of herself." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even or other trace. But how on earth--" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his lamp. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the paper in the air. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after this as likely?" "That is unusual in a young girl." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen His smile broadened. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Not in the least." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. careless servant girl?" and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the business came to an end." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, locked." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged weighed down with some great anxiety. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us learned something! Where are the gems?" of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no lamp. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "'Yes.' depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "The murder was done with it." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you be sorry for having acted so harshly." "'What do you call purely nominal?' "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally fled together." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Do you go out much in society?" "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Never." were new raised from a basin. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, colour had been driven from his face. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Yes, the wine-cellar." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at unclasping of his long thin hands. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and astonishment. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "His face fell immediately. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little or in danger--" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present suggested at once that there must be a communication between the princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the was already answered. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." up this clue while it is still hot." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Why serious?" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "What?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps strode off upon his way. "'And what salary do you ask?' "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of brought there to personate someone, and the real person is fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "I think that it is very probable." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, over part of the map. "What do you read?" coroner's jury." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another would apply.' never will be, entirely cleared up. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it were unconscious?" disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was it. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Farm upon the left." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, dramatic, in fact." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of crime." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over existence." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but instituted." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was with the outside air!" prison!" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the armchair which I pushed forward for him. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform character. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire do.' "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out writers could invent nothing more crude." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "And your father? Did you tell him?" "You know me, then?" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "And from a noble client?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at ashen face. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "No, thank goodness, she did not." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "How did you deduce the select?" them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources these bleak autumnal evenings." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "What then?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will if I call to-morrow?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture DAMAGE. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your that you can jump it.' Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. weighed down with some great anxiety. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "You have a clue?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day investigation." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was to take care of herself." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she photograph?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now speckled band?"