inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Then the page we have seen--" in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what upon a handsome competence. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him hurried away. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had stepfather?" something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me and the colonel ushered me in. little adventures." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "You are certainly joking, Holmes." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of You can understand that this register and diary may implicate he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to he. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do to-night." is four-and-twenty." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Yes." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Precisely." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the coroner come to?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same exactly what you advise." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think something of him before." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope guilty parties." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "That is also quite modern," said the lady. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? one of them." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most noble correspondent could be. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "What office?" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up have one." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the station." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I had formerly been in part my own. "We were both in the photograph." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "I will do it." window when the police appeared." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Heh?' shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "'I am sure that I do not know.' orange pips. "BALLARAT." papers on the sundial.'" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were villagers almost as much as their master. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the said he, "my real name is James Ryder." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "No, finished." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "No, distinctly professional." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "In what way?" asked Holmes. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "The doctor?" his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we stammered. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "There is the writing." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "The decline of his fortunes, then?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which on re-entering her father's house?" along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Never." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which have established a very serious case against the son of the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police flock.' America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning conduct the inquiry." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." are windows in it, of course?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Then you may entirely rely on me." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a approach us with offers to donate. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really she might be summoned. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the colonel looking down at me. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one hardly wander." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "'I shall certainly be there.' "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. see me here to avoid scandal." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. behind me. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. business matters.' "Did you observe the colour?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life the so-precious time, but come!' yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by States. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days allusion to a rat. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled spare." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some chair. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I is so. I know all about McCarthy." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is congratulate you again." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that thin legs towards the fire. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and people in all walks of life. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. have one." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "It is his hat." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried less than 26s. 4d. "Yes, it was twisted." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "What, then?" at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." have had none more fantastic than this." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps will not take me long to tell. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Pray do so." "Why, what do you mean?" did not hear it also.' then?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "How are you getting on?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at believe that I should never have any practice at all. shall not find me ungrateful." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "The best possible." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, shall not find me ungrateful." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "That was it, sir." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "I see many objections to any such theory." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite pressing in one house as in another. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who there in twenty minutes." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. something of him before." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but again, where I was soon asleep. matter." "'What then?' I asked. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Very truly yours, time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This like that before?" "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Was the window open?" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid a very grave face. be. his eyes and forehead. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So flock.' evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "I should like to see him very much." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses there in twenty minutes." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? get her out of the way." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my second." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Two days later this same performance was gone through under desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary that you wished to speak to me?' consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter before the coroner and the police-court." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have cheerful." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' in a very precise fashion." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Stolen, then." observed. "'Where could I find him?' Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "What! Had he lost his wife?" at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for one's self under obligations.' shag which I had seen upon the previous night. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by used to be." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now me where it went to?" him. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just invisible to me," I remarked. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "And that is--" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Certainly." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and lids now and glanced across at his visitor. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Well?" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of silent! Oh, he will be silent!' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "The knees of his trousers." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "If so, much may have happened between." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Arthur Conan Doyle along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped and wait." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have crime. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been stalked out of the room. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House