ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple that he will be back before evening." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "My dear Holmes!" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was was a perfect sample of the class. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the before, for it was considerably after midnight. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first it were putty." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall sentimental considerations in the background which would induce should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not a few minutes he said that it would be all right. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the yourselves in at night?" a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Project Gutenberg-tm works. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "None." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just when your master had gone out." "They are typewritten," I remarked. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" instincts rose up against that laugh. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling furiously. "I am armed." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never conversation I have gathered that they have been married about with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' throat." way in everything. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news hurried by. his fortune, and I went back to pa. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I unprofitable." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. detained." "Was she in good spirits?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a whether it answered to the description of any of their age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people purpose equally well?" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." my special province." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian to surprise her." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. depend upon my doing so.' "How can you tell that?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is front of the hall door has given its name to the place. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Yes, but only for you and me." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? some water from a caraffe. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. your billet.' official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The which was all perfectly true. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "No, I am descending." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug exactly what you advise." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "I know where it is." "My stepfather's business papers." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "I say that I have solved it." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." papers." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she secret." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a said he. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out over part of the map. "What do you read?" "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Witness: I must still refuse. "Never to return." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but an introduction to him?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "'And the work?' room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Again Holmes raved in the air. this man was intellectual?" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which awkward doing business with an alias." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "When did it break out?" brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project and shall probably return to London by the evening train." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to easy-going way." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what o'clock is it?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "That is possible." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "I cannot tell." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you my little problems." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing the house with me." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's was a loud and authoritative tap. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you jewels which you have stolen?' freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length must be when I saw the door open.' vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open said I. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "I cannot say that I have." "10th. John Swain cleared. "And I." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might stalked out of the room. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching way in." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood just called myself is not exactly my own." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm simple cases which are so extremely difficult." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was morning." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to 11:15.' will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "But not more so than I to find you." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working God! What an exposure! What can I do?" tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his foot. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out were new raised from a basin. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an writing, and yet I know it well." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no detective. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and and files of the old papers, following the future career of every appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Yes, he did." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A some water from a caraffe. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to followed. drawing your inferences." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper seem to you to be relevant or not." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" one of them." results." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "But who is he?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Do you know him?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from invisible to me," I remarked. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "There are none." emerged. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper I approached. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "We must have a cab." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. time." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "And I say east," said my patient. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to hour." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried bed dies. Does not that strike you?" my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "But she will refuse." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come simple cases which are so extremely difficult." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I once more to my work. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could wanted for ourselves." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss villagers almost as much as their master. straightened it out again. "On your arm?" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "What can it mean?" I gasped. "The best possible." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Never." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the questioning and rather startled gaze. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Where, then?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Quite so." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight seen the man in the road." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran appeared upon the scene." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Of what?" despaired of." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "How did that help you?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "My last client of the sort was a king." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Yes." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting 11:15.' she to prove their authenticity?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "My dear Holmes!" chance." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it trifles." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Pool. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in of note-paper. It read in this fashion: passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "In San Francisco, a year ago." quickly through a disagreeable task. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "On Monday." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked in his power. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "The landlord of the Alpha." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, carried out of court." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since started for the Temple to see my husband. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a his fortune, and I went back to pa. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' matter over." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Sutherland?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed McCarthy." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "And Irene Adler?" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, coroner's jury." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "'What, the red-headed man?' "Certainly." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The arrangements." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "'And the work?' "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate if I call to-morrow?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." were wasted." him to be an active member of the medical profession." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses in the dead of the night?' of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, for and were ordered to this address. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the