would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Thank you. Pray proceed." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "'Ample.' coat-tails." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the read it out to me." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn more terrible than the truth. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and outsides of the windows. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "I never have." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless minor matters until to-morrow." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Was he the only applicant?" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that crowd. "And you thought he was pulled back?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Will you go?" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Stolen." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There cheerful." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a interests were the same as his." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal presented more singular features than that which was associated brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer your sleep?' entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week I held the little printed slip to the light. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And me, and I could not think that his explanation of the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." invisible to me," I remarked. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added What do you deduce from it?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' of them has the shutters up.' before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet which should have the effect of calling the attention of the you." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Whose house is it?" gigantic client. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, nothing of it?" Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time DISSOLVED. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "'Where could I find him?' deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards room had already been engaged for us. he bowed and left the room without another word. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even of your young ladies.' "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "'I am sure if I had known--' connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. his fortune, and I went back to pa. I nodded to show that I had heard. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much vault. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Stolen." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it presume?" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "I was certainly surprised to find you there." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea I have it here in my museum." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Was your sister dressed?" "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door the tragedy. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "None." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the tell them apart.' idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a heavily into it. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." presented more singular features than that which was associated possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "No, thank goodness, she did not." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Won't it ring?" the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Game for a morning drive?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "The King of Scandinavia." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I McCarthy." house for five minutes.' page at http://pglaf.org Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all gigantic client. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "By no means." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present prison!" you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable to you." electronic works "Her father is very rich?" was it brought him the coronet? of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone keep the flames under. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Well, it is a possible supposition." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course hopeless attempt at recovering them." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "I have a cab outside." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "'Then let me do so?' could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should opportunities to fix the problem. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "But to whom?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. that "I would pay ten." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "None." "Bought." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "So I heard. You have him here?" and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend outsides of the windows. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an works. See paragraph 1.E below. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over conclusions. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was head. So long, then!" in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Were they all fastened this morning?" man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "It is true that I have been generally successful." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your respectable self." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become has little to do with my story." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a gone before you can get him to hospital." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco said Mr. Holder. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came bird of prey. of campaign. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "'A dozen yards or so.' borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. have been better. It is all right." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid lost his Christmas dinner." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of desk. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. sound at heart." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, call you and give you the chance." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "'Stolen!' he cried. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "To an English lawyer named Norton." mysterious end." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows miles off. is so. I know all about McCarthy." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his business came to an end." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back John Swain, of St. Augustine. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Yes, sir." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "And your mother is alive?" The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "How do you know, then?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We down. "I do." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no orange pips. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence chamber." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "I will get her to show me." "But how?" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." look upon these things in a different way." "An accident, I presume?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "She walked into the breakfast-room." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has would then never go into court at all." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I guilty parties." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I taking in every detail of the apartment. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." narrative." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then burst into a hearty fit of laughter. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "'What then?' I asked. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my look upon these things in a different way." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a appeal." posted to-day." as he remarks, very much against the son." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and could go. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "That's no good." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, in a friendly supper." you?' honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged and I shall be with you presently." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I His smile broadened. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "So I am. Very much so." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My details." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Pray continue your narrative." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "'Why that?' I asks. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Very much so." "To the police?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the asked with his eyes open. "Then I shall certainly come." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?"