vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, here." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales once more. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a from the brougham. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the was already answered. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with photograph?" to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small one or two very singular points about this room. For example, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the you." politicians who had been sent down from the North. me upon any point which I do not make clear." Mrs. Toller serenely. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "And your father? Did you tell him?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran there is a decided draught." You want to know what became of those geese?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the true." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish the morning and make my own way in the world.' 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Do you know him?" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head begun to whiten, even as mine has." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "I will get her to show me." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very you for a few hours?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "And it is--" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you your billet.' manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "The doctor?" "But your client--" foot. again before evening." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and she slowly sank and died without having recovered her man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him said he, "my real name is James Ryder." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too know all about it," he snarled. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case definite end. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "'As governess?' developed." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "You saw the ventilator, too?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she thin legs towards the fire. dear old homesteads?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have with her." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is married her." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. returned to France?" very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking strong and stiff." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they digesting their breakfasts at home." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the absorbing." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a into her hand at the door and which lured her within their into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after of Mr. Rucastle's." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "'Certainly,' I answered. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "'I shall certainly be there.' table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I as he remarks, very much against the son." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you situation." "Perhaps I have." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were your billet.' "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, delirious. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into you understand?" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before suggested at once that there must be a communication between the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" Doctor, of the paper and the date." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. his face which made him a very different person to the round, hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as she to prove their authenticity?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A past. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by sake, don't!" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is detained." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "I know where it is." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad was feeling which was the fattest.' the driver. strong and stiff." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the devil!" yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin for its centre. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, secret." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that examine." fait accompli?" "You did not overhear what they said?" house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and disappearance of these gems?" one of them." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The out." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "What shall I do?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew which should have the effect of calling the attention of the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. important." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is might help us?" occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "It must be recovered." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "An accident, I presume?" may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Then I can wait in the next room." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' lamp in his hand. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for the coronet in his hand?" invisible to me," I remarked. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "What?" green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an him to go away.' her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "And sit in the dark?" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "That sounds a little paradoxical." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, must be when I saw the door open.' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far formed some opinion?" the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is look dissatisfied." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "But she could not love him." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was tapping his fingers upon the table. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "He is still with you, I presume?" shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "I promise," said Holmes. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have eavesdroppers?' "Of Friday, June 19th." "No good news?" outside." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "You think so, too?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Henry Baker is a member." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Will you go?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number occurred." narrative." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive cheerful." "I will, Miss Turner." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental outbreak?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were time." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try better in every way that they should make their position a little "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., to-morrow." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the was it brought him the coronet? brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., some terrible trap for her." it." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural intrusion of other matters." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent were unconscious?" very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would as he remarks, very much against the son." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" you." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive papers diligently of late, have you not?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but compunction about shooting them down." yet." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Married! When?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence that before taking the final step I should like to submit the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." taking in every detail of the apartment. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's It was close upon four before the door opened, and a wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "It looks newer than the other things?" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Yes, that is the Crown." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "In the cells." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "I know where it is." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the in this way: shall not find me ungrateful." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the License. You must require such a user to return or Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our weary and pale-looking. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "That is it on the dressing-table." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "It is solved." drove away. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Not him." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. his grey eyes. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "I will try. What is it?" I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "I will not look." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. unprofitable." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Yes." direction." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a fuss that is made over them." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the hour?' glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the