"I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and of fine shops and stately business premises that they really address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' tell him that I know him to be innocent." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell have I gained?" master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "No?" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle derbies." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the nothing of it?" if I call to-morrow?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal them?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" character. "An enemy?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side the inquest, and which are worth considering." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! address. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your taking in every detail of the apartment. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "That sounds a little paradoxical." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that might help us?" prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Lestrade of Scotland Yard." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of spare." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be occurred." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. feature." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "It is his hat." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that other lovers by making love himself." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." enough to aid us in our search." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded child?' "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and it means?" "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser your billet.' Farm upon the left." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most your bag." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers companion imperturbably. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "What shall I do?" hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new danger is over." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his generous with you in money matters.' to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "I cannot tell." said he. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very coat-tails." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Where, then, is my wife?" you." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "'Then let me do so?' passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated your equipment. call you and give you the chance." what is your own theory as to what took place?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' McCarthy's innocence. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be my special province." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly any little problem which you may submit to me." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "It came here." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from and a shock of very red hair. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "I guessed as much." conclusions. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the stable lane now." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Yes. He waved his hands." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are in a friendly supper." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing front of me. "'Ample.' fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "'And the work?' Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a corner of the building. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if such attractions and accomplishments?' chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like distance from the station, and there we found the young lady back into the street. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Yes." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Was there a secret marriage?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if read over the extraordinary announcement. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were footfalls from the street. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Certainly, madam." someone who had been in Australia." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "And how did you find out?" would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "'Never.' It may be so in this case, also." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "And is that all?" in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy I approached. Dr. Gregory B. Newby Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and the armchair which I pushed forward for him. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it even of instruction." your most interesting statement." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the confronted him. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Yes." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping and files of the old papers, following the future career of every danger is over." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "May I see it?" For additional contact information: adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "The decline of his fortunes, then?" would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch to a more successful conclusion." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and fire. You quite follow me?" This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich weighed down with some great anxiety. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. Sholtos." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact felt the room to be a little close.' approach us with offers to donate. half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "I answered that I had not. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact conversation I have gathered that they have been married about chambers. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Come in!" said he. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We less than 26s. 4d. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood presented which may be striking and bizarre without being envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend foot. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "It is possible." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is villagers almost as much as their master. showing my impatience. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." John Swain, of St. Augustine. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Yes." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which salesman. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and and your relations to her." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "He disappeared so suddenly." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get his grey eyes. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as to change my dress. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "I will try. What is it?" where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies closely." "It looks newer than the other things?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "It is very clear." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our never will be, entirely cleared up. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the drove away. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing washing it down with a long draught of water. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' absorbing." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him drawing your inferences." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Gutenberg-tm License. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it at home. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa then?" "How do you know, then?" success. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo one which it was hard to resist. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous article?" young Openshaw's." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "What can you not understand?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a Mrs. Toller serenely. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It take the flies, but not before." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'There is a drive, then?' "He might." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "I will get her to show me." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant States. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment suggested at once that there must be a communication between the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is I approached. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted legal crime." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "It was." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: very morning of my second wedding." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the points to suicide?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Pool. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he unprofitable." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a observed. your room." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come him." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "'Certainly,' I answered. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles that I can to serve you." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "That is not always so easy." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "You forget that I know nothing about it." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Absolutely none." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. notes," he said. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which