they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Eyford at 11:15.' the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "It is solved." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. may never be exposed to such a temptation." directly by questioning you." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for again." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, the driver. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Quite so." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. The events in question occurred in the early days of my over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, where we are going." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between himself in a perplexing position. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "No, distinctly professional." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime but preventing her from injuring another. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, 1.E.9. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Stoke Moran." and inquire as to the address." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Yes." woman." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. his wife has ceased to love him." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." 11:15.' presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of man. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, an introduction to him?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a place, I think that there is good ground to think that the correct than the official force." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "But you were on a friendly footing?" "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "What will you do, then?" to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Leadenhall Street--and--" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "My opinion is in no way altered." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "My own seal." his face which made him a very different person to the round, "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. experiences." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "What then?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "No bad?" throat." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "It came here." remarked. "Nearly eleven." "Quite so. She has her freedom." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Which are?" was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "That is it on the dressing-table." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him business?" disappearance of these gems?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "You horrify me." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, case-book, which he consulted. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your prepare for the new role I have to play." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let writer." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is once more. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, in this note: What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, like gravel from a pit.' of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was make me his representative both with the servants and with the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' The events in question occurred in the early days of my large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the nice household for a young lady." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had interests were the same as his." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough my special province." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "'Very good.' charge against him will break down." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average there." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from Project Gutenberg-tm works. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be back into the street. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "What is it, then--a fire?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She prisoner's face. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It go--none." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And purpose equally well?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Was there a secret marriage?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can obstinate." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "When did it break out?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "But we can't all be." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "In heaven's name, what for?" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "My dear Holmes!" nonsense.' few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was trifles." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the galvanised. of this gang." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little IS must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional purpose of examination. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those careless servant girl?" "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "But your client--" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE held up the lantern and gazed about him. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "But you were on a friendly footing?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "'Oh, no.' his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." there is a decided draught." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced This is what he says: remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Stolen." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but felt the room to be a little close.' Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Yes." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in the best of training." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl sofa. This way, please!" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally made his money." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself crime. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at his eyes and forehead. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Was the window open?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the learned something! Where are the gems?" "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" I held the little printed slip to the light. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps your most interesting statement." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "No, my brougham is waiting." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Could he throw no light?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She which should have the effect of calling the attention of the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as is," said he presently: back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would seem to you to be relevant or not." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "What!" he roared. "Pray let us have it, for all that." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "The rest you will leave in our hands." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "At half-wages, in fact." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It key of the affair now." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss had formerly been in part my own. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and do." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "She told me to ask you." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not examine." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen throat." them present such singular features as the strange train of like that before?" chance." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Count Von Kramm." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them wall." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him will he say when he returns?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Oh, the cause is excellent!" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you foot. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf him!" about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Why, what do you mean?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in power." spark where all is dark to me." "And the murderer?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Awake, Watson?" he asked. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "But you have hopes?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to October 9, 1890. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" indeed happy." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the south-west, I see." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door vault. the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the of this gang." becomes even more simple." exactly what you advise." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "No, but the enclosure is." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "'Oh, no.' before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I know where it is." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not it." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is if only as a check to my own memory." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "I think it very unlikely." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "No." "Certainly." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite face and glided from the room. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Mrs. Toller serenely. extraordinary contortions. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? you?" lamp in his hand. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "We must sit without light. He would see it through the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him him and tried to hold him back. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Certainly." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him