"'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Upon what point?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "What will you say?" stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, memory. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still at a side door. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can followed. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a passage and a tap at the door. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "The decline of his fortunes, then?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "My private note-paper." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is minor matters until to-morrow." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "But what is it you wish?" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at weary and pale-looking. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these even of instruction." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a events than those which have happened in my own family." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "We were both in the photograph." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "'Tell me all about it,' said I. she to prove their authenticity?" from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back pictures, libraries, or plate. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it any." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "'Is purely nominal.' vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of then?" in darkness. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He enter into my head. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "To an English lawyer named Norton." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to From what you have told me I think that it is possible that at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "You are hungry," I remarked. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he only touch the interest." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that good for you to do.' Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "But how could you guess what the motive was?" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Well, it is a possible supposition." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal sake, don't!" never came back." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite and your relations to her." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that success. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "'Yes, I promise.' "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Dark enough and sinister enough." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little fasten all the windows?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An that you can jump it.' test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Whose house is it?" "You horrify me." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, system of imprisonment?" INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH investigation." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 you give your casting vote to?" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots strength in the others." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he was shining brightly. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain it." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has British peeress.'" "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, these bleak autumnal evenings." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Dr. Gregory B. Newby great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just fattened it expressly for you.' had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Of Friday, June 19th." "No, I had a dozen." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in legal crime." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, infinite languor in his face. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant returning from some small jollification and was making his way I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the into the room. Holmes." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his o'clock is it?" "I do." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "It is possible." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." tapping his fingers upon the table. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and Mrs. Toller serenely. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a one or two very singular points about this room. For example, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him undoubtedly my uncle's." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the This is what he says: does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a was keenly on my guard against him. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Holmes. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat my friend's incisive reasoning. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "My private note-paper." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Thank you. And your address?" us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, seven miles from Eyford Station.' tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Not I." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very easy-going way." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me really the only notable feature about the thing." the window, rose as we entered. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of are, and they are waiting for us." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I page at http://pglaf.org "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "And why?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Because he was handy and would come cheap." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the status with the IRS. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" your billet.' with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "The decline of his fortunes, then?" knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving must compliment you." bears upon the case?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" in darkness. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them charge against him will break down." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose October 9, 1890. had died away into the silence from which it rose. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must to go into your room and bar your shutters?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler is a common subject for conversation. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly tell him that I know him to be innocent." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." should be taken.' with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. weapon." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated business at Coburg Square is serious." "And I." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and night.' said he. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very that the gas is not laid on in his house?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'Then let me do so?' hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Pray continue your narrative." public press." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. have got?" "I think it very unlikely." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing bare slabs of marble. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the empty. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "I have my revolver," said I. yet." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall may never be exposed to such a temptation." "It certainly sounds feasible." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I am armed." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "And what did you see?" rat could hardly pass through." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been shoulder. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "No." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some into the room. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the delighted to hear it," he said. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Doctor, of the paper and the date." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of John Swain, of St. Augustine. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life McCarthy." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Bought." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "It was an hour's good drive." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "But I have heard all that you have heard." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. happened." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy attention." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "I think that it is very probable." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. his wife has ceased to love him." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." and a shock of very red hair. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "We have tried and failed." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. as yours." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "'And the work?' Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "About a month then."