"Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "How did you trace it, then?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope written. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out the coronet at all injured?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very question you as to those details which seem to me to be most his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we infinite languor in his face. "In heaven's name, what for?" "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Imitated." "'Stolen!' he cried. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair call you and give you the chance." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "I will do it." "No, I think that I'll take it." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight examine." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to better in every way that they should make their position a little "It missed him, then?" murdered man." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "'Yes, it was gone.' of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the all-comprehensive glances. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be more terrible than the truth. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a habit of advancing money.' which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's who was a member of your goose club." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than walking." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. politicians who had been sent down from the North. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR particular state visit http://pglaf.org case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned know what is wrong with it.' return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature lamp. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work lamp. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "You heard nothing yourself last night?" strode off upon his way. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "But not more so than I to find you." records." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** opportunities to fix the problem. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Indeed! Whose, then?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep in this note: mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather pierced for earrings?" was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great true." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own detective. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." way: "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "No, thank goodness, she did not." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Frequently." other, as fresh and trim as possible. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young night.' said he. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to From what you have told me I think that it is possible that slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of unclasping of his long thin hands. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my chance at all." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Yes, that is the Crown." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "'And the work?' arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven room had already been engaged for us. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back writing, and yet I know it well." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "I was afraid that you were engaged." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my make me his representative both with the servants and with the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a allusion to a rat. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "In heaven's name, what for?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the like gravel from a pit.' ready to-morrow?' above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I has little to do with my story." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil something of him before." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. girl said." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "What?" suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had which I could not give. He asked for Alice. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "At half-wages, in fact." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Entirely." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not think, you have already met." read it out to me." "Seven!" I answered. gbnewby@pglaf.org have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and hour." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and important." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'In my own bureau.' Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Project Gutenberg-tm works. into the room. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up electronic works it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of means taking possession of that which another person has a prior this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great to change my dress. and a shock of very red hair. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "I cannot imagine." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon tear off another piece?' have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to business at Coburg Square is serious." towards the blaze. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst details should find their way into the papers. Inspector reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his newspaper selections." "Where did you address your letters, then?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the deduce something from that?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "He disappeared so suddenly." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a fasten all the windows?" my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'I have heard so.' "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." Henry Baker is a member." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional man. I know him from the photograph." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "How can you tell that?" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after photograph?" dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His my friend's incisive reasoning. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. better in every way that they should make their position a little head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "'What, the red-headed man?' Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might I approached. Pool. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, said I. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we would then never go into court at all." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "And I to find an enemy." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Where, indeed?" "'Where to?' shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been do you make of it all?" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Of what?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a and the whole place is in a blaze." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your in darkness. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. companion quietly. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my arrested. You then--" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had cigar and let me expound." Holmes' thin, eager face. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Dr. Becher's." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "'Yes, I promise.' hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the Friday. Was it to be in church?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, seem to you to be relevant or not." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than annoyance, but no jest. Have you good authority for what you say?" towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "My private note-paper." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in me what he had done with the three missing stones. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "I think that it is very probable." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "I have hopes." families. Now for the facts. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He take the flies, but not before." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in which are rolled in Rotterdam." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "What is it, then--a fire?" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "'Then let me do so?' will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Where, then, is my wife?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle all?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." are, and they are waiting for us." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the house with me." bears upon the case?" said he. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Is he quiet?" girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Farm upon the left." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were questionable one." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so against a man in the prime of life?" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I don't say that. Perhaps." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special before, for it was considerably after midnight. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our was a loud and authoritative tap. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "This photograph!" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly round with crates and massive boxes. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three grasp, he hurried from the room. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "What, then?" ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his man. "It is no ordinary one." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Again Holmes raved in the air. Sutherland?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have little adventures." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, excitement. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it."