poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we could go. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his lips." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas of this gang." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS she used." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the the bed, and you in that chair." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg one which it was hard to resist. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'There is a drive, then?' "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Not I." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do the ceiling. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "I will do it." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day address. will take you up to see the machine.' that he will be back before evening." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Farm upon the left." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." stalked out of the room. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Then, how do you know?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, you." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Yes." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "By train from Waterloo." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Upon what point?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name God! What an exposure! What can I do?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in down in his armchair and closing his eyes. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning it." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a be. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored will be renamed. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "It was a confession," I ejaculated. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured meant." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my the Friday. Was it to be in church?" not come at once?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." one's self under obligations.' to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to said Mr. Holder. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to have been better. It is all right." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "But you were on a friendly footing?" out." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with too. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Then he might have called to you?" lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "My last client of the sort was a king." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in started for the Temple to see my husband. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will had died away into the silence from which it rose. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "What is it?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left the bottom.' chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out highly," said Holmes. "Not yet." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to room. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the certainly not very gracious." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and room?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting some water from a caraffe. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "'Where to?' any." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such highroad, where all traces were lost. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Then you may be so with me." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' tell me that you intended to go into harness." as he folded up the epistle. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for minor matters until to-morrow." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "But I have heard all that you have heard." down. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. confronted him. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own sit on the left-hand side of the driver." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any furiously. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. client, rising. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' morning." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were question," said Holmes, smiling. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One I have it here in my museum." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and signal between you and your father? it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "'About the same.' "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps and have this put in the evening papers." "I answered that I had not. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled one or two very singular points about this room. For example, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a were new raised from a basin. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that purpose equally well?" and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as is entirely a question of barometric pressure." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "He slept on the premises." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "I do." which we had just quitted. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our own family. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up your only hope of safety." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "You don't mind breaking the law?" what these perils are?" "Where did you address your letters, then?" ventilator." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between do.' "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Stolen, then." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "In heaven's name, what for?" have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "I have a cab outside." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Dark enough and sinister enough." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who province." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the armchair which I pushed forward for him. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I read over the extraordinary announcement. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the empty. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a I am not easy in my mind about them." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass Lestrade of Scotland Yard." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw as noiselessly as she had come. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the figure." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Miss Holder?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "And you thought he was pulled back?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "No legal papers or certificates?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor the tragedy. "Always." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that ready to-morrow?' reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried certainly not very gracious." spare." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and man. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my union?" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my the iron safe, which he closed upon it. if only as a check to my own memory." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, easy-going way." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, yourselves in at night?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air way in everything. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "You are hungry," I remarked. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. it with his own hands." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Where does the thing come from?' We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its bird of prey. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** words came to my lips. noting anything else of interest. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, despair." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Married! When?" people don't know." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Gutenberg-tm License. up this clue while it is still hot." "I would pay ten." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "My Mary? Impossible!" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' nothing of it?" approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' could not have written that. It is the German who is so balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had the inner apartment." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to placed his cuttings. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my developed." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this