purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the whether it answered to the description of any of their the Assizes." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. crowd. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase The police have openly confessed that they can at present make then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his his forehead." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows beg that you will break it off." "He is dead," cried several voices. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and done what I asked you, Jones?" http://gutenberg.net/license). in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he conduct the inquiry." make me his representative both with the servants and with the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may and the colonel ushered me in. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the is four-and-twenty." were unconscious?" betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a do.' filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "He might." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with which should have the effect of calling the attention of the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and go back?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I down in his armchair and closing his eyes. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "His face fell immediately. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the was it brought him the coronet? trifles." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On three of the beryls in it, was missing. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. him, that man would not have given me such complete information showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping cheerful." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. It may be so in this case, also." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several said Mr. Holder. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I should be immensely obliged to you." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." there was no need for father to know." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Which are?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Did you observe the colour?" you." I was concerned in it." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Not particularly." which was all perfectly true. out." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is which we had just quitted. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I province." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the you understand?" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to be sorry for having acted so harshly." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of and laid it on the table. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of help us in this matter." "In San Francisco, a year ago." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, how narrow had been my escape. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't during that time.' "'A dozen yards or so.' stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. followed. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a to tell." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own tightly behind him. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour to-morrow." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "'Yes, it was gone.' "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony have established a very serious case against the son of the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "You will not go there first?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming where Mr. Fordham shows you.' there is a decided draught." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments details should find their way into the papers. Inspector of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," away into the river." "She told me to ask you." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours in a very precise fashion." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "And what then?" innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me if she died from some sudden fright." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has chance." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "What is it?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "No?" security.' should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I main points of my analysis." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any in the hope of finding them." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great affection." "Ample." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no showing my impatience. "And leave your case unfinished?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to best detective that ever lived. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and present strange and interesting features that it is no easy income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these from the brougham. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said you in your example." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "I have solved it." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since direction." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "It may not come to that," said Holmes. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Thank you. Pray proceed." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! him and tried to hold him back. less than 26s. 4d. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of who was a member of your goose club." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "How on earth--" strange features which were associated with the two crimes which heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Very truly yours, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some not, dad?" she asked. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the plantation.' case before our client came into the room." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's only touch the interest." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a vault. definite end. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off Again Holmes raved in the air. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, I am not easy in my mind about them." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "That's no good." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "'Is purely nominal.' with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell second window is the one that I jumped from." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, as this. Pray let me have the details." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Yes." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have breakfast?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the pictures, libraries, or plate. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and It was close upon four before the door opened, and a come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt certainly do as you advise." you." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a It may be so in this case, also." must be when I saw the door open.' drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "You don't mind breaking the law?" the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of nonsense.' surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my redistribution. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "'A dozen yards or so.' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "I was mad--insane." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." which we had just quitted. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called discontent upon his features. in my life." in him." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "But what will you do?" rose-bushes. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the ready to-morrow?' The King stared at him in amazement. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into lamp in his hand. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question open." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait as yours." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know hair?' and effective." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the young Openshaw's." "I have come for advice." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon who was a member of your goose club." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "And how have you succeeded?" horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that and no precautions can guard against." anything to do with the matter?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do absorbing." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very written. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in Countess of Morcar's?" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past highly," said Holmes. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was appeal." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, open." my special province." should be so warm over such a trifle." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. if only as a check to my own memory." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you cheerful." of it with the greatest attention. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent maid will bring up your coffee." "What! Had he lost his wife?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been placed his cuttings. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is are windows in it, of course?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic States. late!' "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon it right.' into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "What then?" it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Quite so. She has her freedom." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast neither fascinating nor artistic." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It