greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "And why?" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the you." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Edgeware Road. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "And why in hopes?" "What is it, then--a fire?" where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Was she in good spirits?" "I say it is." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He be there in time for your coming." here." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's was it brought him the coronet? The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having over here." a monotonous occupation." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon with you?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback behind me. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away Holmes' room. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a to a more successful conclusion." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "But she will refuse." fattened it expressly for you.' "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "No legal papers or certificates?" Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." as yours." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the nothing with him." did not hear it also.' few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in will not take me long to tell. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Certainly, madam." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "What steps will you take?" I asked. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "You will not go there first?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." case before our client came into the room." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Tired-looking or fresh?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And you give your casting vote to?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of indiscretion." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was them?" that he will be back before evening." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a yards of it?' safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked photograph a cabinet?" Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my direction." of it with the greatest attention. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "I was sure that I might rely on you." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "What can it mean?" I gasped. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "I guessed as much." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be hurried away. our word." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, acquaintance?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, investigation." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at during which he might have communicated with his friend the awkward doing business with an alias." "What of the rat, then?" really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "In what way?" asked Holmes. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper three of the beryls in it, was missing. than to us. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the your co-operation." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to name is different." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would signal between you and your father? Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of that there was nothing in it, after all." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." easy-going way." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Yesterday." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Yes, he did." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near me. You must get home instantly and act." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at spare." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "My private note-paper." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "An enemy?" too. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his attention." "And I to find an enemy." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "'And what salary do you ask?' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet papers on the sundial.'" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "I shall be delighted." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink anything to a woman, for she would have her way." seem to you to be relevant or not." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose beyond words. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done Have you good authority for what you say?" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "The landlord of the Alpha." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." will not take me long to tell. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates indiscretion." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Why, what do you mean?" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set developed." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do do.' money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "'And the work?' "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best matter." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "I have seen the police." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "'I am sure if I had known--' We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "'In my own bureau.' face and glided from the room. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he my former friend and companion. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to key turn in the lock." "Quite so." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a business in the City. She little knew what. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "You were travelling in the States?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it despair." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth enough to aid us in our search." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly away into the river." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "On the contrary, this is the right side." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few his face. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates arrested. You then--" ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in fat-encircled eyes. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my bill, which interests me deeply." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. I nodded to show that I had heard. "'What, the red-headed man?' which it had come upon my father." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." to some other building. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "But she could not love him." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall his forehead." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his third from London." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had that?' heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at breakfast." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must written, and locked the door of the office after me. "From his hat?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Yes, but only for you and me." married her." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that be best to do. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is nonsense.' after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "And Irene Adler?" other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a to take care of herself." any little problem which you may submit to me." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Come in!" said he. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is sneer upon his pale face. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with away into the river." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "How often?" his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Where does the thing come from?' eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "'I am sure that I do not know.' wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Is he quiet?" business in the City. She little knew what. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to absorbing." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "But the mystery?" it." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "We must have a cab." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a this truth that in these little records of our cases which you to affect your life." "And on what day did he meet his death?" the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We that I am arrested." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the general public were present, then?" wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing His smile broadened. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my breakfast and whispered something to her husband. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond 1.F. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "I will not look." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read points in connection with it which never have been, and probably is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "I cannot think." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Yes?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to unprecedented a position." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came eavesdroppers?' strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for are windows in it, of course?" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave where Mr. Fordham shows you.' which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such better in every way that they should make their position a little "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached