"I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "But his lameness?" the very morning of the wedding." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. of the way of danger. Literary Archive Foundation the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the power." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in answered with a sidelong glance. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited you, my dear young lady?' employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than know that the truth is known." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "But you can know nothing of this?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and Chief Executive and Director son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property here and I will read it to you: attention." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. colonel looking down at me. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "I am still in the dark." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "What can you not understand?" "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "But his left-handedness." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Really! You surprise me." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "It must be recovered." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and in a very precise fashion." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "What are they?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who the Assizes." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored occupations.' "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass not fit the lock." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately later, upon the night of May 2nd." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the events, Mr. Windibank!" searched, without anything being found which could incriminate problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which not come at once?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "At half-wages, in fact." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through the Friday. Was it to be in church?" Holmes rather sternly. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other weighed down with some great anxiety. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "The murder was done with it." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate over here." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "But your client--" "What are they?" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken one of them." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. have had none more fantastic than this." to Leatherhead. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and said he. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "What of the rat, then?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "What are they?" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it clanging. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire which are rolled in Rotterdam." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Why, what do you mean?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are train.' faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Really! You surprise me." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had gbnewby@pglaf.org is a common subject for conversation. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in later, upon the night of May 2nd." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Quite so." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late companion quietly. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "The Cedars?" many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so details should find their way into the papers. Inspector destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," the little opening for the ventilator is." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "'There is a drive, then?' "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no visitors." very old mansion. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "I am to be neutral?" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle redistribution. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." The events in question occurred in the early days of my Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "He said that you could solve anything." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What constraint." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Entirely." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, kind enough to tell me what I should do." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be bare slabs of marble. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to already been minutely examined." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to peculiar to him. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "So I am. Very much so." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of outside. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, towards the blaze. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "And did you observe any change in her then?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the had formerly been in part my own. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "I cannot say that I have." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Was your sister dressed?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "I am about to be married." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign will be renamed. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "And when will you call?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "To the police?" believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Yes." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have them?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a a good hundred miles off by now." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." advice." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "No." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon whereabouts. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to coroner's jury." to talk it over. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, locked." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "But you have hopes?" hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and gone. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it on in his house." noting anything else of interest. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in presented more singular features than that which was associated Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now matter." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which carpenter." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like dates and names. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my From what you have told me I think that it is possible that and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the the running down." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR touch that coronet?' depend upon your compliance." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls coroner's jury." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as nothing of it?" corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' business came to an end." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "None." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked once more to my work. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of of this gang." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per works. See paragraph 1.E below. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Did you become engaged then?" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. could not have written that. It is the German who is so "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but go from here to the Strand." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I warn you that they are very incomplete." returned to France?" have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. thin legs towards the fire. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this lumber-room." directors, with the result that you have seen." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the made him keep the appointment." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in call for it in person on Monday morning.' "What can you not understand?" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his had picked up in the wood. as noiselessly as she had come. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric of your young ladies.' cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money outsides of the windows. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear murdered man." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's least a most suspicious remark." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." to Leatherhead. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "And how?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City newspaper selections." used to be." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "And is that all?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is shadow pass over his face as I spoke. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a tear off another piece?' The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "And you thought he was pulled back?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "'Most admirably.' her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "My last client of the sort was a king." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of it were putty." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, man. kind enough to tell me what I should do." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Yes." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and better in every way that they should make their position a little present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in a room. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. attention." of it with the greatest attention. his knees, staring into the fire. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Two days later this same performance was gone through under you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and investigation."