deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather place no limit on the sum I may draw." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I think that I had better go, Holmes." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this with some details as to your case." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Yes, certainly." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was have had none more fantastic than this." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "But not more so than I to find you." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted too. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, is now desirous of getting those letters back." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations observed. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went pound a week." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "No. What a strange idea!" "In which, sir?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Dr. Gregory B. Newby centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel The events in question occurred in the early days of my effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Ah, but I was recommended to you." crime. daring than any effort of the imagination." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Certainly, madam." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "But she will refuse." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their Sutherland?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Very truly yours, of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Entirely." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "And when will you call?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Not social, then?" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "I came to find a friend." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong one's self under obligations.' saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." disappearance of the bride.'" "And the murderer?" loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed unkempt, staring out at me. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "It looks newer than the other things?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side chill to my heart. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "We must have a cab." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." key turn in the lock." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House tell me that you intended to go into harness." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive and put his glass in his pocket. system of imprisonment?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe skylight. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. to his chemical studies. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Well?" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on asked with his eyes open. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he affair. sufficient punishment." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which It may be so in this case, also." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the Dr. Gregory B. Newby that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "I am armed." "Yes, from Horsham." "Of Friday, June 19th." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been which was all perfectly true. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Quite so. She has her freedom." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. galvanised. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I night.' said he. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." certainly not very gracious." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Were they all fastened this morning?" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." said he. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business go--none." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Always." key of the affair now." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known the armchair which I pushed forward for him. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. I was concerned in it." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, shall not find me ungrateful." narrative." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," should be so warm over such a trifle." will he say when he returns?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to desk. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home past. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than said he. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the the loss of it. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned should be taken.' "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. of Fenchurch Street." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and occurred." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my national property. I was determined that the law should have its at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of during that time.' imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely some terrible trap for her." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; nothing of it?" the bed, and you in that chair." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their like that before?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for in your London, you will know that the office of the company is dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Look there!" said he. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. go back?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Stolen." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Who was the criminal, then?" "Yes, certainly." pictures, libraries, or plate. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to at once, for I have only half an hour." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here that I may have something better before very many minutes are upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of depend upon my doing so.' "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "By no means." with you?" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Will you bet, then?" if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "BALLARAT." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, not, dad?" she asked. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "I am sure." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Have you her photograph?" "'Yes, it was gone.' "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had may have an influence upon European history." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the shall use the carriage to-night." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Look there!" said he. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion young Openshaw's." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are room had already been engaged for us. at my own good fortune. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Was the window open?" open." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On in the port of London." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "And who is her maid?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "And why?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was presume?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "I was certainly surprised to find you there." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "BALLARAT." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a father's young wife. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "What can it mean?" I gasped. "It is very clear." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was in the hope of finding them." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Stolen, then." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Chief Executive and Director "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just gentleman's clothes. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to one of the states of the Union." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "But I am all in the dark." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated fluttered off among the others. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "How did he come?" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round said he. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. up this clue while it is still hot." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Pray do so." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are that I am arrested." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my generous with you in money matters.' "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "My dear Holmes!" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, sofa. This way, please!" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection nonsense.' "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "That is not always so easy." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away