difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat delirious. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it the Friday. Was it to be in church?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip any more." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and some place of shelter and let the county police know what has to surprise her." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what this man was intellectual?" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two come either from the window or the door. My attention was The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." events than those which have happened in my own family." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the the coroner come to?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Then I can wait in the next room." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "And I." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "I was certainly surprised to find you there." foresight and the moral retrogression?" Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. ago." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, tension within him. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "How on earth--" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid questionable one." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and I nodded again. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." for and were ordered to this address. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "An enemy?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Yes, certainly." lamp. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on that you saw all that I did." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his this unhappy family?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "It is no ordinary one." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one purpose equally well?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the very letters. But what is this written above them?' of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. lost his Christmas dinner." it were putty." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Why did you pick him?" danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address upon a handsome competence. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' without a word or a look. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' entirely devoid of interest." any more." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should until night should bring an explanation. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the papers." emerged. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Yes." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the feature." key of the affair now." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little business at Coburg Square is serious." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "That also I could fathom." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. had died away into the silence from which it rose. "And your mother is alive?" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Yes." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." his forehead." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his written. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at everything which you would wish to know." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in me have 200 pounds?' remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it that threaten you." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, forecastle of an emigrant ship. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be head. So long, then!" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "But it has twice been burgled." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "A call for help, you thought?" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even way in everything. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth nice household for a young lady." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "We must have a cab." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Yes, there are nearly always some there." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "I warn you that they are very incomplete." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "And you don't know his address?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "'And the work?' and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." her also." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as like that before?" tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "I am all attention, madam." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide companion quietly. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just the devil!" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. I shall continue with my miserable story. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "It surprised me." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across was once confined in the cab my mission was practically simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but to arrive at through this?" 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the bottom.' leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given my former friend and companion. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, present." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. to miss it." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he forehead. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens confronted him. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a the stones. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but future lives." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Witness: It was. questionable one." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an south, for the country is more deserted there." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' your most interesting statement." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." the general public were present, then?" "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, suspect him." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs you in yours." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "And why?" therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "It was." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official to a more successful conclusion." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who make me his representative both with the servants and with the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "And you don't know his address?" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the presume?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, the tragedy. occupations.' Gutenberg-tm License. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic chambers. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has you found me to-night--and running through the front room she by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he conduct the inquiry." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Pool. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & Doctor, of the paper and the date." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Was there a secret marriage?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send have one." me where it went to?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "No. What a strange idea!" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would was not a bird to be seen there. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she strength." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Yes." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Imitated." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for characteristics, but those are the more obvious." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his the general public were present, then?" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Certainly." "Eh? What was that?" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should which was all perfectly true. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am emerged. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner point our research must commence, and we will begin it by doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before fire. You quite follow me?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already that woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "How on earth--" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "My Mary? Impossible!" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "'About the same.' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may your room." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah Miss Holder?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you his face which made him a very different person to the round, "At what time?" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two heavily into it. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you laugh and put his lips to my ear. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "But what will you do?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "But to whom?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would been deceived." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken foot. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it new duties?' To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "'Certainly,' I answered. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "I would pay ten." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "And how in the world did you find them?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Yes, it would be as well." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Her father is very rich?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of