to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "I cannot tell." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual telegram would bring me down to your help." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "'Which dealer's?' and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere this Miss Turner." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the one else, I think." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "'Entirely.' glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a with the outside air!" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred and shall probably return to London by the evening train." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it newspaper selections." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my unprofitable." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "There is the writing." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions man. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly bears upon the case?" "She will not sell." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." results." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, already been minutely examined." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' his huge brown hands. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know him to go away.' "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless morning." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "No good news?" "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him Mary, has deserted me." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Bought." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the ready to-morrow?' remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "So I have heard." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. upon the sideboard." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it straighten it?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones which was all perfectly true. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She back into the street. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Very murderous indeed." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Upon what point?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of Pope's Court, Fleet Street." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have place no limit on the sum I may draw." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." you?' "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those long narrative. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "It looks newer than the other things?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One formed some opinion?" and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I and I shall be with you presently." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass read over the extraordinary announcement. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he hardly wander." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones back to my heart. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat all-comprehensive glances. "Certainly." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Get out!" said he. "It is true that I have been generally successful." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Why did you pick him?" well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' eavesdroppers?' again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "I should wish to." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done of note-paper. It read in this fashion: seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for existence." "Ah!" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Not in the least." chair. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Thank you. And your address?" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Lestrade of Scotland Yard." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with ceremony." criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. extraordinary contortions. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would good-night and bustled off upon her way. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad bore every mark of being an average commonplace British look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring details should find their way into the papers. Inspector It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "'Entirely.' "Certainly, madam." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir that I am arrested." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "It is true that I have been generally successful." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Yes." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single which should have the effect of calling the attention of the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "You have a clue?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this heavily into it. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "In heaven's name, what for?" "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Could he throw no light?" dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a generous with you in money matters.' "I think that it is very probable." acquaintance?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up My friend smiled. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with distinguish the words: fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Texas, I think." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an unclasping of his long thin hands. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, at my remark. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside depend upon my doing so.' temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me there has been an enclosure here!" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest was lame." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "I have hopes." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "Well?" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is present." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my companion. wanted for ourselves." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Then how many are there?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low there has been an enclosure here!" fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his late!' lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "It is possible." "No more words. Get out!" "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than away to you." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Never." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "You horrify me." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in had this final quarrel? the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "I cannot imagine." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream third from London." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I you, my dear young lady?' The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and interest. They are important, you understand, without being nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Well, some hundreds of times." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered Doctor, of the paper and the date." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is that before taking the final step I should like to submit the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of approach us with offers to donate. waste of energy." vault. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "And from a noble client?" closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his where we are going." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." to-night?" I asked. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Yes, I have one waiting." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Sholtos." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "'In my own bureau.' steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. wedding?" "Pray do so." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see galvanised. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin was feeling which was the fattest.' tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an been shamefully used." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. was feeling which was the fattest.' "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Entirely." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a be best to do. leave you to your papers for a little." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less with frightened eyes at his accuser. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Certainly." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so the station." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few train.' his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and