one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend her also." in one or two places in England?' "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" enter Dr. Roylott's room." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony becomes even more simple." as yours." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are served to weaken the effect. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "What of the rat, then?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "What can it mean?" I gasped. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty results." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over During two years I have had three consultations and one small Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "And now?" He raised his hand. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "You did not overhear what they said?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went do." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "How did you trace it, then?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with once more on the important position which you have been fortunate of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert absorbing." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to envelope. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the matter." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That 1.E.9. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "But how?" "We must have a cab." "But he might be a bachelor." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "What of the rat, then?" Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk where Mr. Fordham shows you.' and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "It missed him, then?" way in." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "VIOLET HUNTER." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "'There is a drive, then?' dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "'And what are they worth?' I asked. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and bears upon the case?" long narrative. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is just ask you whether you had heard it.' afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich his forehead." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "'Never,' said I. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Two days later this same performance was gone through under public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady You want to know what became of those geese?" it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "How often?" "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so papers diligently of late, have you not?" from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "My dear Holmes!" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Precisely so. But how--" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if bonnet, and went out." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am signal between you and your father? after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Very. But will he see it?" Watson," he said cordially. are, and they are waiting for us." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, will take you up to see the machine.' morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the companion imperturbably. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on thin legs towards the fire. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if way in." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' desk. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted waste of energy." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Certainly." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, to some other building. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as 1.E.9. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, fact, we may call it conclusive." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' was lame." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society said he. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, dates and names. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is village inn over there?" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "By no means." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to you give your casting vote to?" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Oh, fresh and glossy." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of voice, changing her seat as requested. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "One?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and burst out into a roar of laughter. for the market.' invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may success. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "And how in the world did you find them?" copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he there is a decided draught." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country said he at last. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the never came back." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I would give my fortune to have them back." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how examine." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "He said too much." "'Why that?' I asks. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress with her." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a to where he stood hid behind the curtain. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "And who is her maid?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to Cross for the Continent." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain said he. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my to arrive at through this?" "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "But I am all in the dark." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "And I to find an enemy." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but details should find their way into the papers. Inspector friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the that practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the devil!" words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "But you can know nothing of this?" "A greater distance to travel." careless servant girl?" so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'It is locked up,' I answered. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose throat." how narrow had been my escape. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A man. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been arrested. You then--" copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification he bowed and left the room without another word. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, go from here to the Strand." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." is four-and-twenty." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Yes." appointment with me for six o'clock?" "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind nothing with him." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "VIOLET HUNTER." Surrey." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a so.' the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he was a loud and authoritative tap. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend drove away. "What then?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you bonnet, and went out." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are the night.' "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and prepare for the new role I have to play." whereabouts. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage said he, "my real name is James Ryder." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "That you are never beaten." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Only as much as we can deduce." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. never to learn it at all." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "What shall I do?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in dear old homesteads?" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of upon the white wrist. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place your troubles." in this way: "Well, it is a possible supposition." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Literary Archive Foundation we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates a very grave face. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than article?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were Mary, has deserted me." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from in your London, you will know that the office of the company is sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, few hundred pounds.' flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never I am not easy in my mind about them." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, the station." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "You did not overhear what they said?" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He man. I know him from the photograph." the driver. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself are, and they are waiting for us." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was careless servant girl?" lids now and glanced across at his visitor. have accepted such a situation. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of putting in the horse. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered happened." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress other, as fresh and trim as possible. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of shaken than I had ever seen him. "Were they all fastened this morning?" "That was it, sir." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "'What would be the hours?' I asked. that threaten you." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and invisible to me," I remarked. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have an introduction to him?" in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "It was." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Then you may be so with me."