"Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary carriage. It was a chestnut." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely tension within him. I. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "But I am all in the dark." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, certainly do as you advise." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just easy-going way." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" friend's singular character. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to to go into your room and bar your shutters?" memory. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous of it with the greatest attention. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "No, my brougham is waiting." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "The decline of his fortunes, then?" into the room. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead that opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for to have that photograph." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew could not account in any way for the presence of the missing newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something tapping his fingers upon the table. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Street. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door the armchair which I pushed forward for him. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Foundation In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "You will not go there first?" sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, breakfast?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: think that he is innocent?" should be taken.' "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this and glanced through. and your relations to her." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "In the cells." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "And now?" I asked. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns ran thus: Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, are, I think, all that we need." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally gigantic client. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Never to return." entirely devoid of interest." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "And how did you verify them?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." developed." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "'There is a drive, then?' before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "'Stolen!' he cried. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our upon the white wrist. been shamefully used." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "But she will refuse." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Look there!" said he. "Ah!" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Young McCarthy must be got off, however." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone or other trace. But how on earth--" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial instituted." "'Why that?' I asks. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his London for the present?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Where did he live, then?" Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Was she in good spirits?" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "'Yes.' dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "My Mary? Impossible!" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: closely." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "The Coroner: What do you mean? face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Then how many are there?" "My Mary? Impossible!" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Then what has happened to him?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Nothing." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately derbies." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in http://gutenberg.net/license). himself in a perplexing position. so.' himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. was used.' "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Entirely." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Pray do so." felt the room to be a little close.' "I think that it is very probable." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if congratulate you again." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter ago." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and carriage. It was a chestnut." the roots. think you a quite exceptional woman." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "The landlord of the Alpha." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Dr. Gregory B. Newby "You have but to name it." "He slept on the premises." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired had formerly been in part my own. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have was lame." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no begin with, and I had not got mine yet." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of gone. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." carried out of court." "An accident, I presume?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an was not a bird to be seen there. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "To an English lawyer named Norton." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of the very morning of the wedding." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' again before evening." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting photograph?" the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key second." strength in the others." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you business at Coburg Square is serious." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than important." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as over his head with a sweet womanly caress. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for what I may call a really hard day's work." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally know all about it," he snarled. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds I approached. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood pressing in one house as in another. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every way in everything. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his persecution?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the disturbance in my wife." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other was once confined in the cab my mission was practically look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My stepfather?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "My dear Holmes!" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." light and attacked it." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at which it had come upon my father." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in in his hands." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has gigantic client. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' was shining brightly. "And when will you call?" go from here to the Strand." "So it appears." appeal." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, one else, I think." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few more terrible than the truth. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been business in the City. She little knew what. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "At what time?" clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "'Entirely.' agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see Chief Executive and Director even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "'Very good.' "You have but to name it." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and maid will bring up your coffee." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very fasten all the windows?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was to me. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Entirely." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your But Holmes shook his head gravely. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with vanished into the darkness. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a if only as a check to my own memory." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "I am still in the dark." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced in one or two places in England?' DISSOLVED. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The American. Then who could this American be, and why should he drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is corner of the building. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt with some details as to your case." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that this Miss Turner." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the and looked back. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Stoke Moran." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with read it out to me." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what photograph?" St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George