"I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was mysterious business." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real from you?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind your most interesting statement." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "And leave your case unfinished?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; directly by questioning you." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, instincts rose up against that laugh. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out his knees, staring into the fire. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and of the vacancies.' you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian was a loud and authoritative tap. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers four million human beings all jostling each other within the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the me what he had done with the three missing stones. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, fat-encircled eyes. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." speckled band?" "About a month then." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a written, and locked the door of the office after me. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my confronted him. politicians who had been sent down from the North. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk undoubtedly my uncle's." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Can I be of assistance?" without a word or a look. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it The note was undated, and without either signature or address. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "No." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "'What then?' I asked. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "My private note-paper." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "I never have." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "'I am sure that I do not know.' "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained girl said." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to returning from some small jollification and was making his way off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how had a long day." coat-tails." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "And you thought he was pulled back?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and to surprise her." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Murdered?" sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. sneer upon his pale face. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of respectable self." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite searched, without anything being found which could incriminate deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "It is to him that this trophy belongs." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Then I do not see the point." to surprise her." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Then he might have called to you?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe retorted upon me, and I on you." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a the stable lane now." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He Street. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." Literary Archive Foundation leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "No." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town to surprise her." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is to change my dress. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Certainly." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Sutherland?" WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to client, rising. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "To an English lawyer named Norton." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was do you make of it all?" and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Your sister is dead, then?" I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I vanished into the darkness. "'Yes, sir.' "A greater distance to travel." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Yes." "'Where to?' pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." galvanised. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Not him." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed acted in my house last night?" sufficient punishment." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." British peeress.'" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you you want, then?' red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and begun to whiten, even as mine has." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the miles off. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." row." "Was the window open?" and all of them with the keenest interest. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. politicians who had been sent down from the North. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from your only hope of safety." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of sooner or later she must fall a victim. the little opening for the ventilator is." me upon any point which I do not make clear." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "'I am sure that I do not know.' character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be reach." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "You horrify me!" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. to change my dress. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should sufficient punishment." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Has he come with you to-night?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Have you it here?" on re-entering her father's house?" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out happened." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it the coroner come to?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Holmes' thin, eager face. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "It is possible." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, as he remarks, very much against the son." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "And what then?" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly had this final quarrel? "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and nonsense.' triumphant cloud from his cigarette. late!' "The landlord of the Alpha." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "What!" he roared. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can one of them." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up and capable of preserving a secret.' therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is empty. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Project Gutenberg-tm works. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences unprecedented a position." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "About a month then." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But bore every mark of being an average commonplace British foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Munro.' might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "One of his hands." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for Foundation from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "The doctor?" ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Has he come with you to-night?" "And for present expenses?" "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "'Yes, it was gone.' family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Mary, has deserted me." "A call for help, you thought?" union?" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with it? Did I buy the geese off you?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, did not hear it also.' stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "My Mary? Impossible!" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "'What, the red-headed man?' "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Indeed! Whose, then?" to-night." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the fire. You quite follow me?" ventilator." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a is worth.' "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I 1.E.9. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Bought." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "I don't say that. Perhaps." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "The doctor?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I case before our client came into the room." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the loss of it. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" beg that you will break it off." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be you." direction." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to over here." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "No." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, Leave Paddington by the 11:15." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Of Friday, June 19th." "You will not go there first?" can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all important." "Holmes, the busybody!" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming and capable of preserving a secret.' balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her will be renamed. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "What of the rat, then?" intrusion of other matters." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is fact, we may call it conclusive." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed ourselves in the office." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever suggested at once that there must be a communication between the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into was keenly on my guard against him. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped business." "But who is he?" carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no good-night and bustled off upon her way. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave and the whole place is in a blaze." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "'Yes, sir.' "I see no marks." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, taking in every detail of the apartment. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his to a more successful conclusion." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "'I shall certainly be there.' this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and 1.E.9. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "None." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" could go. investigation." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' less than 26s. 4d.