Street. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of tell him that I know him to be innocent." three fields round his house, and there he would take his some water from a caraffe. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "But it has twice been burgled." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce excitement. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that III. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "Proceed, then." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "This concluded the examination of the witness." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project vault. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Yes, only one." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said he bowed and left the room without another word. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler down in his armchair and closing his eyes. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at o'clock is it?" consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "The decline of his fortunes, then?" Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "'I am sure if I had known--' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for the address that was given us in the advertisement. drove away. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards gbnewby@pglaf.org visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be shall use the carriage to-night." once more to my work. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy really the only notable feature about the thing." companion. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public but preventing her from injuring another. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my than was visible to me." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to said he. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "The best possible." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "A greater distance to travel." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they papers on the sundial.'" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the visitors." "Will you bet, then?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The noble correspondent could be. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them she used." the loss of it. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "I cannot say that I have." over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, question. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the happened." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Did your wife hear all this?" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and photograph?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Will you bet, then?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she legal crime." "But how will you look?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "To an end?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He quick march!" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed and a shock of very red hair. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Miss Holder?" which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' his face. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey trying to your nerves." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Yes." "'What then?' I asked. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Perhaps I have." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "She walked into the breakfast-room." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission in his power. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived the inquest, and which are worth considering." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." During two years I have had three consultations and one small great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you over here." intrusion of other matters." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned once more to my work. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any me what he had done with the three missing stones. learned something! Where are the gems?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, to have been novel and of interest." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain shaken than I had ever seen him. 'please.'" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My the window, rose as we entered. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning been with you?" as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in discontent upon his features. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found present." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which said he at last. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, guilty parties." "No?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an here." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. quite distinctive." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of possible that we could bring him back to her? "No." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. about here speaks of his kindness to him." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "No bad?" "I have a cab outside." "Did you become engaged then?" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. have been better. It is all right." companion. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "And Miss Sutherland?" Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "Have you her photograph?" "Stolen." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Nothing." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for time." if only as a check to my own memory." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." call the police, let the police find what they can.' into the room. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Serpentine Avenue. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Henry Baker is a member." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "My own seal." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" call it cruel." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that his cane at the bell-pull. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking likely to be some crony of the landlady's." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of Leadenhall Street--and--" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, business came to an end." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the to a more successful conclusion." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. do." to-night." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Do you go out much in society?" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes appointment with me for six o'clock?" "No, my brougham is waiting." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of she to prove their authenticity?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "It looks newer than the other things?" wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "That is unusual in a young girl." "BALLARAT." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." spark where all is dark to me." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there seen the man in the road." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke take the flies, but not before." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last ourselves in the office." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, daring than any effort of the imagination." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' before the coroner and the police-court." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns voice. footfalls from the street. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Of Friday, June 19th." your room." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee lumber-room." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other point our research must commence, and we will begin it by which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock weary and pale-looking. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "What! You do not mean bodies?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "My dear Holmes!" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I to tackle the facts." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "His face fell immediately. weighed down with some great anxiety. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "'Ten to two.' feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a the running down." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever fat-encircled eyes. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of his face. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "And the murderer?" business." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the business in the City. She little knew what. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "No. His orders were to stay in the house." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each meant it for the best. there!' was not a bird to be seen there. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." certainly not very gracious." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for his forehead." enough to aid us in our search." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" than was visible to me." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "I answered that I had not. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is him, that man would not have given me such complete information the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. Street. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "And who is her maid?" bonnet, and went out." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I