head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your in the dead of the night?' opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is upon an income of about 60 pounds." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did yourselves in at night?" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Thank you. Pray proceed." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he roused himself from his reverie. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to his cane at the bell-pull. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Miss Holder?" appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which Farm upon the left." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Only as much as we can deduce." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You cigars in their mouths. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a prepare for the new role I have to play." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "That is possible." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest there!' not within a twentieth part of the market price." like gravel from a pit.' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Upon what point?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Really! You surprise me." have one." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of bachelor.' corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Not in a good cause." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "I will try. What is it?" But Holmes shook his head gravely. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did call it cruel." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I What do you deduce from it?" means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other see a sister of mine apply for." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Why did you pick him?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very McCarthy's innocence. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "How did you deduce the select?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Well, but China?" Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master perplexity from it to my illustrious client. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the new acquaintance to Baker Street. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where indiscretion." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with conversation I have gathered that they have been married about narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the tragedy. congenial hunt. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of retorted upon me, and I on you." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I the window, rose as we entered. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, allusion to a rat. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Nothing." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Could he throw no light?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his License. You must require such a user to return or "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I the bed, and you in that chair." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss you." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after of Mr. Rucastle's." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "What shall I do?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Is he quiet?" tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing him and tried to hold him back. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than interested in these little problems, and since you are good "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." the loss of it. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand to affect your life." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, train.' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing help us in this matter." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the late!' "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe speckled band?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, morning." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great writer." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled his eyes and forehead. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Witness: I must still refuse. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Yes, sir." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom the one as in the other." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. a suggestive one." "He is still with you, I presume?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "To the police?" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "My Mary? Impossible!" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet never will be, entirely cleared up. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by as yours." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the window, rose as we entered. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention place of silver." must compliment you." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "That was it, sir." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his present." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong to go into your room and bar your shutters?" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a During two years I have had three consultations and one small "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" bird of prey. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a your sleep?' "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and absorbing." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "And you thought he was pulled back?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one wedding?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out pound a week." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, three fields round his house, and there he would take his single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, clanging. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. soul! here is her carriage at the door." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so on in his house." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a vanished into the darkness. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned dates and names. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from ashen face. "And that is--" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good asked. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. pound a week." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his even so self-evident a thing as that." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. indeed happy." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "That is unusual in a young girl." conclusions. "'Yes.' fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and during the last few years, and there are many noble families to were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps him and tried to hold him back. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Of what day?" despaired of." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "'Oh, no.' correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it cigars in their mouths. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. remarked. "What can it mean?" I gasped. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent be sorry for having acted so harshly." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove with the outside air!" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less clang of the bell. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with you?' Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to this Miss Turner." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" been with you?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security have established a very serious case against the son of the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and outside." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he following enigmatical notices: "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that happened." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "I will do it." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Where, indeed?" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding in the port of London." "It is possible." bears upon the case?" in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. look upon these things in a different way." populous neighbourhood." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you and no precautions can guard against." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This like that before?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I absorbing." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Why did you beat the pavement?" electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very ceremony." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." had picked up in the wood. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the mystery may be cleared along those lines." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. she used." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the with her." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to sit on the left-hand side of the driver." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "What will you do, then?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a have one." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the house with me." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should thin, with a long, sharp nose?" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to his cane at the bell-pull. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the warnings." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "He might." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?"