yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback the room while you explain this matter?" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Where to?" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect interest. They are important, you understand, without being when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her I. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "But I have heard all that you have heard." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Holmes. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open bled considerably." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "That's no good." chemical work which was so dear to him. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for four million human beings all jostling each other within the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and The King stared at him in amazement. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in or in danger--" tear off another piece?' "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, trying to your nerves." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Then I am your man." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it than to us. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind chill to my heart. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look to where he stood hid behind the curtain. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the night.' "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her not interfere, come what may. You understand?" country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "I cannot say that I have." "'I have already given you my word.' the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though prepare for the new role I have to play." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the fishes. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "That is easily got." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "What have you done?" asked Holmes. there!' "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, the coronet at all injured?" up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "I have a cab outside." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window goes." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "Well, some hundreds of times." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just that I may have something better before very many minutes are however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "I have seen the police." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "This concluded the examination of the witness." fact, we may call it conclusive." helping a boy to put up the shutters. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "No." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I enter Dr. Roylott's room." fishes. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "How did you deduce the select?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be suspect him." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "But of what society?" For additional contact information: "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who ordinary clothes on?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple who was a member of your goose club." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him did not hear it also.' where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he someone who had been in Australia." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Chief Executive and Director upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Holmes. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "What are they?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he chamber." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our and the church but not where the lady lived." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit death." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "I will get her to show me." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "That sounds a little paradoxical." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I here and I will read it to you: "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, events, Mr. Windibank!" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "How long did she speak to this Alice?" in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler never to learn it at all." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "A greater distance to travel." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I I leave." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "She showed me, as I told you she would." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been undoubtedly my uncle's." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw detective. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my gentleman's clothes. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to point in the dark hollow of his hand. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are interests were the same as his." to change my dress. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. carriage. It was a chestnut." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There place of silver." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "I see many objections to any such theory." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. a good hundred miles off by now." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Foundation works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "I don't say that. Perhaps." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "A greater distance to travel." the coronet at all injured?" "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would he. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Did he not advertise?" he. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking intrusion of other matters." do.' the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight most important business. It is probable that he will be away all our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "VIOLET HUNTER." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "But your client--" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Gutenberg-tm License. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Just look it up, then." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "It is solved." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, chambers. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have golden eyeglasses. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp unkempt, staring out at me. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "That is possible." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and purpose equally well?" the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Precisely." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'Certainly,' I answered. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and intrusion of other matters." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' Watson," he said cordially. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "In what way?" asked Holmes. of campaign. For additional contact information: his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Yes." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of keep the flames under. the devil!" well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had stood on the top of it. "You know me, then?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped experiences." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders you do it in twenty minutes!' "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Because he was handy and would come cheap." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here opened a pocket-book and took out a note. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Bought." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "To an end?" will be renamed. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" indiscretion." always that they were such commands as a lady might with quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, burst out into a roar of laughter. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring returned to France?" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "I will do it." presume?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "It was." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' flock.' taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "That is it on the dressing-table." the bed, and you in that chair." "My dear Holmes!" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Yes." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of more terrible than the truth. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "But you can know nothing of this?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide the stable lane now." not within a twentieth part of the market price." for the market.' drawing your inferences." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "One of his hands." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Leadenhall Street--and--" touch that coronet?' the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of this man was intellectual?" and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two her also." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." legal crime." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that than was visible to me." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, where Mr. Fordham shows you.' building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, have not had my rubber." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few round and wave him away like that.' should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban to a more successful conclusion." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And villagers almost as much as their master. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, tell me that you intended to go into harness." was used.' speckled band?" police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had any." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without before the coroner and the police-court." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "To an end?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your your room." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "None." Mary, has deserted me." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes rose-bushes. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." you understand?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and once more to my work. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call investigation." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That papers." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. do.' such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door in this note: "Married! When?" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "'Oh, no.' fuss that is made over them." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly