Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "On your arm?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "That is easily got." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "There are none." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he hour." fled together." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I the general public were present, then?" "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" results." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Quite so." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a hands. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. shaken than I had ever seen him. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our examine." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society case before our client came into the room." dear old homesteads?" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Pool. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the hand, madam?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "A greater distance to travel." them?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Not in the least." hard-headed British jury." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the very morning of the wedding." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Your French gold?" behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have behind me. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Never." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "'Why that?' I asks. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over to have been novel and of interest." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be that I can to serve you." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "And why in hopes?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "I know where it is." writer." started for the Temple to see my husband. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips License. You must require such a user to return or look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that ready to-morrow?' This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, little adventures." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the bottom.' disturbance in my wife." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his so.' coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full miles off. "Won't it ring?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which several quiet little villages up there." kindly on the shoulder. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very him and tried to hold him back. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy always that they were such commands as a lady might with vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which him to go away.' the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he that, and I came down." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet society." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, this man was intellectual?" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" McCarthy's innocence. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "That is not always so easy." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager horse could go." "Deserted you?" of them has the shutters up.' You want to know what became of those geese?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching chambers. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "At what time?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" very morning of my second wedding." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall do you make of it all?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must 11:15.' "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. situation." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "'Yes, sir.' He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "'How far from the body?' "I am still in the dark." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that client, rising. forecastle of an emigrant ship. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I was feeling which was the fattest.' George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Leave Paddington by the 11:15." them, and came down just as you departed. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as character. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are secret." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for notes," he said. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in depend upon my doing so.' family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper the child." http://gutenberg.net/license). lost nothing by them." "Precisely." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of and your relations to her." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "I see no marks." "And I say east," said my patient. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that bill, which interests me deeply." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Murdered?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that considering the formidable letters which were received by himself window when the police appeared." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must disappearance of these gems?" was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in do.' presented which may be striking and bizarre without being appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "You did not overhear what they said?" caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret he died? dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much his huge brown hands. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I will not look." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms memory. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs should be taken.' the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from three of the beryls in it, was missing. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since room had already been engaged for us. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, of your young ladies.' answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "It missed him, then?" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "From his hat?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was leaning back in his chair. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon Holmes." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed help us in this matter." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "I shall be delighted." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" may have an influence upon European history." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power emerged. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "And you can do nothing until then?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your did not hear it also.' sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange down from London to inquire more deeply into it." where she found matters as described by the last witness. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to ordinary clothes on?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our 11:15.' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his are, and they are waiting for us." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "It is his hat." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Very well, sir. And this stone?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which morning." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed or in danger--" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "I think it very unlikely." affection." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a was a lad." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I wall." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Where, indeed?" "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "We have tried and failed." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand burst out into a roar of laughter. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "You have compromised yourself seriously." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would shall use the carriage to-night." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "She will not sell." "And what did you learn from him?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Sholtos." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and for its centre. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Perhaps I have." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window three of the beryls in it, was missing. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Witness: I must still refuse. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord suggested at once that there must be a communication between the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. awkward doing business with an alias." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to place no limit on the sum I may draw." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and in his power. eavesdroppers?' chemical work which was so dear to him. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or drawing your inferences." "I am in hopes that she does." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a