and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Pray be precise as to details," said he. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Was the window open?" wall." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." this unhappy family?" "'Oh, no.' distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I was certainly surprised to find you there." friends, not even his own brother. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply me, and I could not think that his explanation of the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "How many? I don't know." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper wedding?" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your place, I think that there is good ground to think that the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the words came to my lips. here and I will read it to you: "Yes, from Horsham." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. have one." fear." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an golden eyeglasses. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Precisely so. But how--" signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we until night should bring an explanation. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "I do." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a bonnet, and went out." the Red-headed League." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to The King stared at him in amazement. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "But she could not love him." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "My Mary? Impossible!" ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "And the murderer?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "ARAT," I read. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' a little more before I quite committed myself. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H people in all walks of life. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Countess of Morcar's?" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular hair?' assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "'In my own bureau.' Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and then?" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure whatever might befall. kindly on the shoulder. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been you." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a this poor creature." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss me. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Your presence might be invaluable." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you dear old homesteads?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "And when will you call?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss to his chemical studies. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Eh? What was that?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person what is your own theory as to what took place?" locked. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "He is dead," cried several voices. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." in this way: which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, signal between you and your father? though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "I cannot tell." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you the night.' green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, woven round him. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "How do you know, then?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by meanly of me." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has galvanised. "What, then?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save hard-headed British jury." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too Have you good authority for what you say?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Where did he live, then?" remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen hour?' not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the affection." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my to-morrow." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "I have my revolver," said I. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." examine." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" ago." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. not within a twentieth part of the market price." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Holmes." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "VIOLET HUNTER." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure in your London, you will know that the office of the company is The King stared at him in amazement. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my away into the river." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I narrative." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Dr. Becher's." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, present strange and interesting features that it is no easy round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was the best of training." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." more terrible than the truth. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I views." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place wall." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "I promise," said Holmes. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her bled considerably." little trying to do so much typewriting?" which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be outside." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "His face fell immediately. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with DISSOLVED. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too bearing upon the case." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." to a light-house. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "To ruin me." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with three fields round his house, and there he would take his destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes strength of mind to control. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it for securing the situation." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." speckled band?" "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, rooms." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without case-book, which he consulted. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "That is easily got." "You have carte blanche." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some would then never go into court at all." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of new duties?' I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, roused himself from his reverie. "I know where it is." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Yes." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where His smile broadened. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "Have you it here?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Of what day?" cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. foresight and the moral retrogression?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid have got?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." letters?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for absolutely follow my advice in every respect." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, again, where I was soon asleep. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the