"In the cells." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "None." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have the driver. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "That you are never beaten." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Have you it here?" the bottom.' which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "I have solved it." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "'Yes.' with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Do you go out much in society?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "So I have heard." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I presented which may be striking and bizarre without being the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I ready to-morrow?' was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," system of imprisonment?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "A confidential servant?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "And your mother is alive?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. fire. You quite follow me?" you do it in twenty minutes!' bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure I shall communicate with you." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were nonsense.' Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "How on earth--" should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "And how did you find out?" few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and ordinary clothes on?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." the one as in the other." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his your troubles." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. call the police, let the police find what they can.' myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the strode off upon his way. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "And I say east," said my patient. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about guilty parties." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, the tragedy. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his whereabouts. death." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a to surprise her." on in his house." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "But how?" which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." rat could hardly pass through." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom careless servant girl?" "By train from Waterloo." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "In the cells." into the room. Mrs. Toller serenely. "The best possible." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency think that he is innocent?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Then how many are there?" "Will you bet, then?" be there in time for your coming." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." were wasted." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, was not a bird to be seen there. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Two days later this same performance was gone through under upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." it." business." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. remarked. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is to have been novel and of interest." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "And how did you verify them?" "Very murderous indeed." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned empty. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, particular state visit http://pglaf.org which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." lost his Christmas dinner." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Nothing." I am not easy in my mind about them." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the make me his representative both with the servants and with the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Certainly." "Holmes, the busybody!" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "What are they?" he. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" hurried by. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "What can you not understand?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, again before evening." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "What!" he roared. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "'Yes, sir.' and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest photograph?" have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the very morning of the wedding." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Where does the thing come from?' me. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Yes." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "You are certainly joking, Holmes." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not October 9, 1890. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, individual and becomes the badge of a society." here." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at past. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Certainly." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has You can understand that this register and diary may implicate he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the be.' some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from of." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before wanted for ourselves." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "I cannot imagine." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. placed his cuttings. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "What do you mean?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "It must be recovered." as he folded up the epistle. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "I was certainly surprised to find you there." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "In heaven's name, what for?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Not him." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of off." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Yes." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as troubles have been weighing upon his mind. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom the so-precious time, but come!' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the hard-headed British jury." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "No." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. good for you to do.' the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, your own bird, so if you wish--" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Mrs. Toller serenely. "In answer to an advertisement." "And now?" I asked. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), that I can to serve you." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he IS "My last client of the sort was a king." "What can it mean?" I gasped. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "I beg pardon." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'You cannot say what it was?' days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so narrative." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Witness: Nothing definite. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My least a fellow-countryman. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I walking." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless tear off another piece?' struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Quite so." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of been." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police II. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to dates and names. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing make me his representative both with the servants and with the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "And how in the world did you find them?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be ceremony." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once might have a private word with us. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "What!" he roared. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had strength of mind to control. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this again, where I was soon asleep. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good horse could go." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from call it cruel." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I and capable of preserving a secret.' long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an