laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "They are typewritten," I remarked. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where more terrible than the truth. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, or other trace. But how on earth--" black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions morning." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "'And what are they worth?' I asked. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Not yet." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying chemical work which was so dear to him. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." outside." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "The Cedars?" "Do you go out much in society?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried the date of his supposed suicide." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my followed. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "It is very kind of you." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "'What, the red-headed man?' whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "No?" open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried present." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I and looked back. http://www.gutenberg.net extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his results." humiliation." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features be there in time for your coming." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of and laid it on the table. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement sufficient punishment." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low pressing in one house as in another. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "No." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "The murder was done with it." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "'What do you call purely nominal?' enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it humiliation." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round which are rolled in Rotterdam." written, and locked the door of the office after me. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "And why?" "One horse?" interjected Holmes. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "You are all wrong." "What then?" it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Why? What do you mean?" "She told me to ask you." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. enter Dr. Roylott's room." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "You have compromised yourself seriously." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose dramatic, in fact." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads open." me what he had done with the three missing stones. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "What?" DISSOLVED. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may noting anything else of interest. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the salesman. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "What, then, did Peterson do?" "None." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." I took the paper from him and read as follows: few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle my secret was safe in his possession. "Not I." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. humiliation." "Then I shall certainly come." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond in. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' yet." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin 11:15.' "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "I cannot as yet see any connection." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "It is possible." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "My dear Holmes!" "When did it break out?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "My private note-paper." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "A confidential servant?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat power." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Quite so. She has her freedom." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part floor. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the future lives." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would placed his cuttings. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both meant." in the hope of finding them." "By all means." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "And did you observe any change in her then?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Chief Executive and Director "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Yes, from Horsham." you, my dear young lady?' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the child." "Nothing." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found to surprise her." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal asked. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary strong reason behind." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, happened." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "When did she vanish, then?" sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He window when the police appeared." "Not I." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Has he come with you to-night?" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even pressing in one house as in another. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do were wasted." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this grasp, he hurried from the room. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "But we can't all be." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Did you become engaged then?" deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from characteristics, but those are the more obvious." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Mrs. Toller serenely. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Well?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was bill, which interests me deeply." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an opened a pocket-book and took out a note. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "'Most admirably.' "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' about here speaks of his kindness to him." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "And how did you verify them?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she signal between you and your father? "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that one else, I think." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for know all about it," he snarled. "Absolutely?" also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, point our research must commence, and we will begin it by sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the with you alone." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was searched, without anything being found which could incriminate with the outside air!" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune waste of energy." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "My stepfather's business papers." "I should wish to." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I see many objections to any such theory." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much to affect your life." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The rat could hardly pass through." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that see a sister of mine apply for." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That he died? "At what time?" had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, business at Coburg Square is serious." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I His name is Francis Prosper." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "The Cedars?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." forbidden door. the stable lane now." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm to-morrow." "I am in hopes that she does." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a been able to understand it, in a very few words. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us some mystery and the punishment of some crime." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "He is dead," cried several voices. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked later, upon the night of May 2nd." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property she slowly sank and died without having recovered her Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" companion quietly. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "But she will refuse." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his upon the white wrist. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since peculiar to him. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I best detective that ever lived. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "'Oh, no.' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he heavy and sharp instrument." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "'About the same.' to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your thin legs towards the fire. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though your most interesting statement." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "What, then, did Peterson do?" here and I will read it to you: "No, finished." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A