to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the which we had just quitted. indeed which he could not unravel. I nodded again. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project system of imprisonment?" One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Arthur Conan Doyle when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "And who is her maid?" I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little any little problem which you may submit to me." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. head. So long, then!" the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the been with you?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the my room." husband's writing, madam." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that back into the street. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Oh, yes, easily." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "A call for help, you thought?" "'Oh, no.' were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave take the flies, but not before." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up you understand?" considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "The doctor?" should be taken.' which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Quite sure, dad.' all-comprehensive glances. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head to-night?" I asked. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" gone. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through business?" he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we morning." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, the stable lane now." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' was shining brightly. "Not in a good cause." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Then, how do you know?" "No. What a strange idea!" "Yes." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and plantation.' a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "A greater distance to travel." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Never." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "I cannot tell." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not for its centre. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to and it need not interfere very much with one's other Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning heavy and sharp instrument." minor matters until to-morrow." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get key of the affair now." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "My opinion is in no way altered." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner presume?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a of it with the greatest attention. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the not as remarkable as your advertisement." affection." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "No legal papers or certificates?" effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon a few minutes he said that it would be all right. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his mystery." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me extraordinary contortions. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. during which he might have communicated with his friend the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, of Mr. Rucastle's." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" father's place of business?" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Thank you. And your address?" passage and a tap at the door. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to prisoner's face. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your I am not easy in my mind about them." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" The King stared at him in amazement. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that Mary, has deserted me." "And how did you find out?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her Holmes. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "And your mother is alive?" married her." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which pressing in one house as in another. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little upon a handsome competence. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived forecastle of an emigrant ship. both be extremely obliged.' from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, some terrible trap for her." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could chambers. to have been novel and of interest." breakfast." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "A greater distance to travel." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as from the brougham. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "That is unusual in a young girl." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen to Leatherhead. unprecedented a position." I shall continue with my miserable story. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the the coroner come to?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "'Yes, sir.' fluttered off among the others. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had matters immensely." "Won't it ring?" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross fat-encircled eyes. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked the night.' the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. in. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied towards the blaze. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "That was it, sir." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have the best of training." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw conversation I have gathered that they have been married about to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" if only as a check to my own memory." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as you give your casting vote to?" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. quickly through a disagreeable task. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young or in danger--" "She told me to ask you." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "It is possible." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. of it with the greatest attention. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. burst out into a roar of laughter. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I records." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "You have compromised yourself seriously." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "My stepfather's business papers." Street. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the really the only notable feature about the thing." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at threw himself down with his face to the pillow. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight place no limit on the sum I may draw." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." before the coroner and the police-court." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every in darkness. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a nonsense.' "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his hurried away. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." so far?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime hard-headed British jury." "I came to find a friend." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that crackling voice. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of face and glided from the room. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want bed dies. Does not that strike you?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and was shining brightly. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "We must have a cab." "And sit in the dark?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove father's young wife. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "What!" he roared. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the charged with?" "'Why that?' I asks. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three to change my dress. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, used to be." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has cup of tea. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of village inn over there?" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the little opening for the ventilator is." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger