before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very the Assizes." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard not, dad?" she asked. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body strength of mind to control. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in you." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich corner of the building. depend upon my doing so.' with some details as to your case." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "That you are never beaten." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was retorted upon me, and I on you." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what the devil!" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Yes, I have one waiting." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic you in yours." overpowering excitement and concern. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for directly by questioning you." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of legal crime." thirty. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front someone who had been in Australia." his wife has ceased to love him." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. writers could invent nothing more crude." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the best detective that ever lived. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted the night.' Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that of your young ladies.' over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she ashen face. straighten it?" way in everything. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you it? Did I buy the geese off you?" as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets was shining brightly. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "What then?" vault. nice household for a young lady." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "That was it, sir." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. his grey eyes. and effective." "Precisely." fled together." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" London for the present?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers business came to an end." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back the running down." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "But what harm can there be in that?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "I don't believe it." October 9, 1890. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "'And the work?' robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began dead, shall be safe with us." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a the inner apartment." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most with you alone." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no beg that you will break it off." garden below. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "And sit in the dark?" "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would into the room. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, pound a week." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every present." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining British peeress.'" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Dr. Gregory B. Newby case before our client came into the room." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" miles off. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of people in all walks of life. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," nice household for a young lady." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and enter Dr. Roylott's room." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to the bottom.' one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the ran thus: summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel him." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, asked. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I upon the white wrist. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It overpowering excitement and concern. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my arms and began to sob in a high treble key. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper the matter." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. discontent upon his features. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, tell him that I know him to be innocent." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for records." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of man. I know him from the photograph." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits But Holmes shook his head gravely. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is I am not easy in my mind about them." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked clang of the bell. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "But you can know nothing of this?" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the giving me time to thank him. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Absolutely none." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Nor running a chance of arrest?" his grey eyes. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "'Tell me all about it,' said I. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Then I shall certainly come." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to him and tried to hold him back. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "No sign of it?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner there were one or two details which were new to me. But the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." your Highness to the police-station?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "We have tried and failed." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out works. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "'Where could I find him?' "The knees of his trousers." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the key of the affair now." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "And how did he make his money?" nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the back alive. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one read over the extraordinary announcement. there is a decided draught." one which it was hard to resist. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed stalked out of the room. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards to-night's adventure." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. electronic works shaken than I had ever seen him. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "'Tell me all about it,' said I. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER only touch the interest." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." compunction about shooting them down." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "It is solved." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in fire. You quite follow me?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your away in different directions, and I went off to make my own the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Thank you. And your address?" better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" thirty. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "It came here." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER never will be, entirely cleared up. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it on re-entering her father's house?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the careless servant girl?" propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' it." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some easy-going way." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "And you don't know his address?" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. the running down." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "I am to be neutral?" building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "I will, Miss Turner." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his amused." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than himself to tell his story. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, papers." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in carriage. It was a chestnut." "Stoke Moran?" said he. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been sit on the left-hand side of the driver." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a are, I think, all that we need." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know Lee, in the county of Kent." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this