hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you when you have done it." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand arrangements." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the purpose of examination. business in the City. She little knew what. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "No bad?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become lamp. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." business?" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. fact, we may call it conclusive." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud eavesdroppers?' husband's writing, madam." south, for the country is more deserted there." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside looking up at the numbers of the houses." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for at a side door. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "By no means." believe that I should never have any practice at all. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for waste of energy." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. of it with the greatest attention. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." will take you up to see the machine.' they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Yes." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" the coroner come to?" nothing with him." beg that you will break it off." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very you." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "What then?" Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion the salesman. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Why serious?" "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions arrangements." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been assist you in forming an opinion." "'You cannot say what it was?' in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea was once confined in the cab my mission was practically gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between The King stared at him in amazement. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that round and wave him away like that.' II. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in me have 200 pounds?' "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as right! Sit down and let us talk it over." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "And for present expenses?" be.' telegram would bring me down to your help." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Will you bet, then?" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the any." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of DAMAGE. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he the armchair which I pushed forward for him. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see observed. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "I am sure." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the tragedy. of your young ladies.' behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that leave you to your papers for a little." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but instincts rose up against that laugh. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" stepfather?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than name is different." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the devil!" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the south-west, I see." "I should wish to." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw entirely lost his self-respect." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down bedroom door." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was come either from the window or the door. My attention was disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "If so, much may have happened between." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "An accident, I presume?" stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." never came back." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your because she had spent so short a time in this country that she thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't retorted upon me, and I on you." his face which made him a very different person to the round, as he remarks, very much against the son." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out dates and names. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his orange pips. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Yes, sir." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do child?' stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of away into the river." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have It may be so in this case, also." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called Heh?' enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Not him." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "No." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "A client, then?" very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Get out!" said he. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "And that is--" took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her within hail.' He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, closing the door. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "You have but to name it." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." outbreak?" them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that soul! here is her carriage at the door." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "What will you do, then?" was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in her also." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "How many? I don't know." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "And you don't know his address?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then shadow pass over his face as I spoke. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "I will try. What is it?" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this here." think you a quite exceptional woman." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing writer." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so have an American origin." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as you." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned status with the IRS. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting delighted to hear it," he said. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a or other trace. But how on earth--" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had into the bag, and made for the door. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "He is still with you, I presume?" "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "No." there was no need for father to know." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from ceremony." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to gigantic client. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her see me here to avoid scandal." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a client, rising. approach us with offers to donate. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "To the police?" observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was gone. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to events, Mr. Windibank!" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "I cannot imagine." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, you do it in twenty minutes!' than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. this as likely?" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "'Yes.' "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the your co-operation." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was handed it to him. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were congenial hunt. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Have you her photograph?" "Murdered?" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "What are they?" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, look dissatisfied." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some house for five minutes.' just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped some water from a caraffe. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "And sit in the dark?" "It was an hour's good drive." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Holmes, the busybody!" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was companion. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the yet." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "On the contrary, this is the right side." have I gained?" truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy entirely lost his self-respect." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are me. You must get home instantly and act." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge matter." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." whether it answered to the description of any of their inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that upon the shelf for the interim." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers answered with a sidelong glance. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a