the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. article?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger affection." brain must have something in it." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only even of instruction." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the results." "Certainly." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "'Ample.' o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "How did you deduce the select?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "How did that help you?" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too that there was nothing in it, after all." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work if she died from some sudden fright." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of conclusions. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting national property. I was determined that the law should have its "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which have I gained?" "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right wall." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. and the church but not where the lady lived." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord have been better. It is all right." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and the so-precious time, but come!' have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Then I do not see the point." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, tied." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "A call for help, you thought?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done present." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "In what way?" asked Holmes. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "'I am sure that I do not know.' Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Then I shall certainly come." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, bird I ate is country bred." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite back alive. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I or in danger--" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a out." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but gbnewby@pglaf.org stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "What!" he roared. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "And how did you verify them?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "None." tapping his fingers upon the table. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "It is solved." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause of campaign. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Witness: Nothing definite. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed national property. I was determined that the law should have its year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just keep the flames under. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing matters immensely." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Ah!" beg that you will break it off." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" straighten it?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I eavesdroppers?' sofa. This way, please!" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." at home. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and written, and locked the door of the office after me. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and searched, without anything being found which could incriminate the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. trying to your nerves." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They is acting for the best. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Cross for the Continent." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for are, I think, all that we need." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Did you become engaged then?" sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, was a loud and authoritative tap. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "My photograph." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. might have a private word with us. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, society." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Yes, from Horsham." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "I think it very unlikely." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will help us in this matter." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it call you and give you the chance." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left always that they were such commands as a lady might with two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "So it appears." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled families. Now for the facts. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." Stoke Moran." "How about poison?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached neither fascinating nor artistic." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his present strange and interesting features that it is no easy would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for legal crime." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "BALLARAT." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "And how?" that you saw all that I did." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the were new raised from a basin. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the get the tickets." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Witness: I must still refuse. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that now. It seems that there had been some informality about their respectable self." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when himself to hunt down. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned in. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Yes." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" of them has the shutters up.' glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see me, and I could not think that his explanation of the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with disappearance of the bride.'" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "I am to be neutral?" common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary now. It seems that there had been some informality about their acquaintance?" a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone purpose of examination. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to so.' horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small events, Mr. Windibank!" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to I shall continue with my miserable story. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small I held the little printed slip to the light. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "But what is it you wish?" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Pray do so." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and will be renamed. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate some water from a caraffe. it." "Where, indeed?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "That is it on the dressing-table." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an cigars in the box." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office take the flies, but not before." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how were wasted." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that weighed down with some great anxiety. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in chance at all." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the at a side door. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "He is dead," cried several voices. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "And why?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' What do you deduce from it?" want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" speckled band?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "But to whom?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "But you would not advise me to refuse?" ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter infinite languor in his face. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of direction." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Have you her photograph?" was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing pound a week." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, business matters.' "'And the work?' hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are pound a week." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." digesting their breakfasts at home." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "We must have a cab." "What do you make of that, Watson?" License. You must require such a user to return or wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of in a friendly supper." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he said he. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "His face fell immediately. father's young wife. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features of fine shops and stately business premises that they really when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "'Where could I find him?' there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew as he remarks, very much against the son."