pierced for earrings?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Come in!" said Holmes. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "Precisely so. But how--" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and prisoner's face. skylight. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." generous with you in money matters.' part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose giving me time to thank him. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Yes." conduct the inquiry." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the yards of it?' through." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an presented more singular features than that which was associated spark where all is dark to me." unprofitable." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." he. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no opened the door, and slipped through. "Ample." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed this Miss Turner." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "How often?" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were stepfather?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety trifles." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to what these perils are?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the occurred." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before lost his Christmas dinner." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than Doctor, of the paper and the date." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "I have come for advice." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "I don't say that. Perhaps." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "I shall most certainly do so." a monotonous occupation." to his chemical studies. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "You have carte blanche." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom are, and they are waiting for us." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave brought there to personate someone, and the real person is self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third distinguish the words: built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she married her." bled considerably." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged to miss it." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance gone before you can get him to hospital." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, appeared upon the scene." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did the King without delay." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw himself in a perplexing position. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite you found me to-night--and running through the front room she home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "'A dozen yards or so.' such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this lips." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." morning." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Precisely." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the respectable self." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'Yes, sir.' "I came to find a friend." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Was there a secret marriage?" Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation License. You must require such a user to return or "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "I shall be delighted." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Do you know him?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "To the police?" o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue orange pips. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "'You cannot say what it was?' routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Well?" some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. but preventing her from injuring another. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow silent! Oh, he will be silent!' because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "I know where it is." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in bedroom door." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one in. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between assist you in forming an opinion." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said sufficient punishment." again on its way. unprecedented a position." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "But what will you do?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly present." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and better in every way that they should make their position a little heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be ceremony." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Eh? What was that?" "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her observed. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind Pool. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he spark where all is dark to me." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'Yes, it was gone.' soul! here is her carriage at the door." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make been shamefully used." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire get the tickets." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "'How far from the body?' "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered look upon these things in a different way." "And I to find an enemy." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite my special province." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at just called myself is not exactly my own." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded Holmes." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Yes." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven redistribution. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may written. colour had been driven from his face. Surrey." to-night?' "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Yes, certainly." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her neither fascinating nor artistic." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Ah, but I was recommended to you." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Thank you. And your address?" "I say it is." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we purpose of examination. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "I have seen the police." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "By no means." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin details." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond your room." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "'Where to?' "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "I cannot think." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire out." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and dead, shall be safe with us." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have you understand?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this 1.F. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." ceremony." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "It must be recovered." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "'Tell me all about it,' said I. sentimental considerations in the background which would induce of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "I have a cab outside." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and woven round him. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "The gentleman I describe." standing smiling on the door-step. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a of Mr. Rucastle's." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with and effective." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs business matters.' has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from 'I should be able to look after that for you.' It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I strength of mind to control. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "I guessed as much." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Have you good authority for what you say?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your may have an influence upon European history." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Your presence might be invaluable." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth orange pips. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but most interesting one." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "'Is purely nominal.' the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will closing the door. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on highly," said Holmes. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any suddenly upon us." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past and wait." "Not in a good cause." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is disappearance of these gems?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "I think that it is very probable." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Do you go out much in society?" until night should bring an explanation. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the helping a boy to put up the shutters. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had kind enough to tell me what I should do." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon You can understand that this register and diary may implicate to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: straighten it?" "I see no marks." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." row." "What then?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported and inquire as to the address." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head must compliment you." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway highroad, where all traces were lost. of campaign. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "No, I had a dozen." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one to some other building. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business of fine shops and stately business premises that they really give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had