all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Nearly eleven." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." night.' said he. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his once more for Briony Lodge. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until promised to bring home. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to them present such singular features as the strange train of charge against him will break down." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest important." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, the night.' "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his go--none." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "The murder was done with it." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Do you know him?" frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe relief. bird I ate is country bred." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of of a light. there has been an enclosure here!" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Yes." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good their singular warning or token before them when starting upon soul! here is her carriage at the door." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "It is solved." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Can I be of assistance?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Ah, but I was recommended to you." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have bird of prey. DISSOLVED. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." her also." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of means taking possession of that which another person has a prior pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a green of the new foliage. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" the salesman. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, cigars in their mouths. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and papers diligently of late, have you not?" You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses with frightened eyes at his accuser. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "In heaven's name, what for?" the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "He disappeared so suddenly." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that how narrow had been my escape. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low once more to my work. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I don't say that. Perhaps." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to returning from some small jollification and was making his way but preventing her from injuring another. were unconscious?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "What of the rat, then?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the come either from the window or the door. My attention was hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Whose house is it?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and at a side door. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "So it appears." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small was the fact that his father should, according to his account, became a certainty. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Street. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "'Yes.' of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Yes, only one." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "My own seal." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Serpentine Avenue. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which cup of tea. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the despaired of." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Yes, at the mines." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him I was concerned in it." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. gone before you can get him to hospital." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to other means.' "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people I approached. friend's singular character. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, said he at last. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Tired-looking or fresh?" had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she door?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely question you as to those details which seem to me to be most that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. deduce something from that?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my cigars in their mouths. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from I have it here in my museum." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery you." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "I fear not." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward them present such singular features as the strange train of rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid o'clock is it?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close people don't know." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him train.' known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "The gentleman I describe." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "What then?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered six. Come in!" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Yes." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy than to us. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, them?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "But to whom?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet it with his own hands." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I country, and eventually married, without anyone having a more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The as this. Pray let me have the details." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in morning." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently way in." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, I think that I could be of assistance to you." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised ourselves in the office." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away lumber-room." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of the house with me." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was if I call to-morrow?" "Then I can wait in the next room." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had spare." mystery." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to to his chemical studies. hair?' "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Which are?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the neither fascinating nor artistic." Count Von Kramm." in a friendly supper." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "Dr. Becher's." guilty parties." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't until night should bring an explanation. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Come in!" said Holmes. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical purpose of examination. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are completely overtopped every other consideration that we both him and tried to hold him back. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. third from London." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "'Ten to two.' the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he garden below. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, had this final quarrel? "Where, then?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "I am to be neutral?" alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Was the window open?" a good hundred miles off by now." astonishment. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced populous neighbourhood." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Well." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about it with his own hands." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "I am still in the dark." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of made his money." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two not come at once?" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet and no precautions can guard against." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. horse could go." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "I have my revolver," said I. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "But she could not love him." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Your presence might be invaluable." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." attention." crime. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "It is half-past ten now." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which