arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Breckinridge is his name." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin clanging. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his For additional contact information: British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Mary, has deserted me." strength of mind to control. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "The King of Scandinavia." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, my secret was safe in his possession. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "He said too much." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." charged with?" third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all the matter?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Serpentine Avenue. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming o'clock is it?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. already been minutely examined." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Sutherland?" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Was he the only applicant?" quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the frequently gained my first real insight into the character of which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is I nodded to show that I had heard. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and beg that you will break it off." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I it." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked how narrow had been my escape. felt?" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Did you observe the colour?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his detective. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That have got?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Oh, yes, easily." "'Certainly,' I answered. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be works. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of mystery." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Where did you address your letters, then?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are in this note: without a word or a look. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly is acting for the best. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to crowd. "In which, sir?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "My own seal." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "How about poison?" showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to relation between them, and what the object of his repeated side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The furiously. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "Thank you. Pray proceed." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Murdered?" Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come be. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of I held the little printed slip to the light. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Yes. He waved his hands." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence colour had been driven from his face. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the room. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "Never." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "'You cannot say what it was?' great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every said he. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor you." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all child?' cigars in their mouths. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." fear." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a light and attacked it." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come bearing upon the case." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Pool. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of cigars in the box." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "It is a murder, then?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, you for a few hours?" "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. fuss that is made over them." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the read it out to me." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, The telegram which we eventually received came late one night be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "But how will you look?" of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his ashen face. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, was shining brightly. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "And leave your case unfinished?" "Then, as to money?" very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Did you become engaged then?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, fashion which was peculiar to him. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "That is not always so easy." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall any little problem which you may submit to me." what is your own theory as to what took place?" he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "May I see it?" "You have a clue?" difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate in his hands." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, carried out of court." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has relief. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the child." such person." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch His smile broadened. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Could he throw no light?" he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down could go. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "I will not look." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed pity, because in other respects you would really have done very client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "But his left-handedness." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "It is very kind of you." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "He said that you could solve anything." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was this man was intellectual?" "What! Had he lost his wife?" some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "I don't believe it." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless despair." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small golden eyeglasses. "Why did you beat the pavement?" little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the tragedy. the house with me." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." quickly through a disagreeable task. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize system of imprisonment?" about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in there is a decided draught." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." second window is the one that I jumped from." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally out of this horrible affair." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "One?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of know what is wrong with it.' rose-bushes. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "An enemy?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and begin with, and I had not got mine yet." affection." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "No." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did dates and names. one which it was hard to resist. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "And it is--" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "'There is a drive, then?' for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some cheerful." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Bought." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? danger is over." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, The summons was a brief and urgent one. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best be best to do. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those and prosperity to your house. Good-night." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the meant." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. forehead. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for fluttered off among the others. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "It is his hat." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his not within a twentieth part of the market price." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client at a side door. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. definite end. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, third from London." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner memory. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told some mystery and the punishment of some crime." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, locked. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two article?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves you came in." there when the Rucastles went away." at once, for I have only half an hour." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "But not more so than I to find you." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom Leadenhall Street--and--" including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Proceed, then." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, with the outside air!" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her will take you up to see the machine.' at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the cigar and let me expound." indeed happy." "Of what day?" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open name is different." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "A thing like a cleaver," said he. have got?" little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Thank you. And your address?" revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I call you and give you the chance." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was