"Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, your Highness to the police-station?" to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, that I may have something better before very many minutes are with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "It is to him that this trophy belongs." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too me what he had done with the three missing stones. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns silent! Oh, he will be silent!' When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "'What then?' I asked. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. speckled band?" Heh?' Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Deserted you?" hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small kindly on the shoulder. "You will not go there first?" Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the station." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no or in danger--" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy not fit the lock." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "No. His orders were to stay in the house." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Indeed! Whose, then?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this him nearly every evening." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, copied or distributed: "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did bill, which interests me deeply." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "May I see it?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "It certainly sounds feasible." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his go from here to the Strand." "Pray do so." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw she has been waylaid. There has been no result." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "'And the work?' charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you and laid it on the table. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of speckled band?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "But to whom?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the despair." fatally injured? to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As disappearance of the bride.'" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle shoulder. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even entirely devoid of interest." "Yes, from Horsham." charge against him will break down." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "And did you observe any change in her then?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this bedroom door." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by in a very precise fashion." stalked out of the room. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so sneer upon his pale face. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" reach." "Yes." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my that there was nothing in it, after all." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I carried out of court." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Not him." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his or other trace. But how on earth--" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Holmes' face clouded over. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Bought." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "You know me, then?" It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his mysterious end." 1.E.9. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made companion. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what was lame." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I lamp in his hand. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "And I to find an enemy." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We hereditary King of Bohemia." morning." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King province." true." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just matter." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was telegram would bring me down to your help." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Witness: It was. hard-headed British jury." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "And the murderer?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect the Assizes." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing the ceiling. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some and a shock of very red hair. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "No good news?" key of the affair now." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or enter into my head. acted in my house last night?" delighted to hear it," he said. which our visitor detailed to us. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my His name is Francis Prosper." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the thin legs towards the fire. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set ready to-morrow?' result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Have you it here?" the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by into her hand at the door and which lured her within their address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but James Windibank. Voilà tout!" been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger all that?" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "But how will you look?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her said I. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' respectable self." of the way of danger. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "To an English lawyer named Norton." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently carried out of court." bears upon the case?" "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "But what is it you wish?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is hour." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable with frightened eyes at his accuser. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An business?" he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, to me. Holmes' face clouded over. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Perhaps we may make them less so." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite hopeless attempt at recovering them." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I that he will be back before evening." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the corner of the building. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "To ruin me." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose this remarkable episode. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "'Then let me do so?' grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I detained." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "None. Neville wrote those words." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, pictures, libraries, or plate. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows less than 26s. 4d. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly leave you to your papers for a little." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "We were both in the photograph." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but stood on the top of it. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a are, I think, all that we need." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when investigation." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Witness: I must still refuse. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Proceed, then." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a sparkled upon his finger. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, wedding?" before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "I cannot imagine." ran thus: have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of the station." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is respectable self." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we the ceiling. even so self-evident a thing as that." points to suicide?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and during the last few years, and there are many noble families to to miss it." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to DISSOLVED. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and families. Now for the facts. "It must be recovered." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the thought that she would have been so carried away." said he at last. danger is over." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Quite so. She has her freedom." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "It is a murder, then?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I felt?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "What are they?" on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at meant." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more geese which you supplied to the Alpha." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of one of them." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, if only as a check to my own memory." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so ready to-morrow?' without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church that there was nothing in it, after all." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should the south-west, I see." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out