fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered of this gang." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present know all about it," he snarled. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. a monotonous occupation." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish locked. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Then he might have called to you?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, the loss of it. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, tell them apart.' II. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler standing smiling on the door-step. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." McCarthy's innocence. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either more terrible than the truth. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Upon what point?" free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home my secret was safe in his possession. yards of it?' as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the acted in my house last night?" "'What, the red-headed man?' "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "By train from Waterloo." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, said he. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of assist you in forming an opinion." "What is it?" revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from manager. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "'There is a drive, then?' surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Yes?" myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who Watson," he said cordially. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a in your London, you will know that the office of the company is down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "His face fell immediately. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce said he, "my real name is James Ryder." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "10th. John Swain cleared. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached asked. "What will you say?" there has been an enclosure here!" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, rooms." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place lids now and glanced across at his visitor. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew fat-encircled eyes. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "One of the highest in England." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very to talk it over. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" it." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was happened." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The strong and stiff." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is all-comprehensive glances. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his was a lad." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his in his hands." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Yes. He waved his hands." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched and your relations to her." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I front of the hall door has given its name to the place. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very certainly do as you advise." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, call for it in person on Monday morning.' Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "I will not look." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to some city in a dream. with some details as to your case." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "But it has twice been burgled." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Quite so." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "What then?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a His smile broadened. and have this put in the evening papers." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "That is not always so easy." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "It is possible." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and Leadenhall Street--and--" subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have society." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "How did you deduce the select?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and But Holmes shook his head gravely. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever any more." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the once more on the important position which you have been fortunate DAMAGE. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "He might." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "It is a murder, then?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just legal crime." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor derbies." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to lectures into a series of tales." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of I was concerned in it." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Foundation "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Just look it up, then." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Where, then?" back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face together. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. way: places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began chill to my heart. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond soul! here is her carriage at the door." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "I have come for advice." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers there when the Rucastles went away." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Here?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. to arrive at through this?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, photograph a cabinet?" dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Not particularly." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "And Miss Sutherland?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into hopeless attempt at recovering them." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Always." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the best of training." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me *** START: FULL LICENSE *** and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, said he. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying indiscretion." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. the best of training." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he considering the formidable letters which were received by himself reach." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "I am still in the dark." "Then I do not see the point." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not both be extremely obliged.' "My own seal." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great impression behind it as though a window had gently closed least a fellow-countryman. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the interests were the same as his." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been orange pips. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, it." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs in the port of London." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" coat-tails." strong reason behind." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "None. Neville wrote those words." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the than to us. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Very much so." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us and laid it on the table. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would was it brought him the coronet? "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press notes," he said. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "And what then?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "My dear Holmes!" hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "'Which dealer's?' so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "No." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. stalked out of the room. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "Then, as to money?" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the events, Mr. Windibank!" distance from the station, and there we found the young lady pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air