delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this open." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could already been minutely examined." "No, I think that I'll take it." words came to my lips. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. outside. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and telegram would bring me down to your help." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All village inn over there?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as You want to know what became of those geese?" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he main points of my analysis." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive have got?" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "What! a murderous attack?" case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of like gravel from a pit.' urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "May I see it?" dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "It is a murder, then?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "The doctor?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Witness: I must still refuse. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard passage and a tap at the door. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was peculiar to him. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Never to return." purpose equally well?" were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "That you are never beaten." in my life." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, charged with?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with astonishment. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I I am not easy in my mind about them." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep useful material for showing traces. The double line a little commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler before, for it was considerably after midnight. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My fire. You quite follow me?" air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "I think that I had better go, Holmes." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in she used." did not hear it also.' "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Holmes, the busybody!" himself to hunt down. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. bachelor.' son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a written, and locked the door of the office after me. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and copied or distributed: his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from were wasted." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "I answered that I had not. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "I will get her to show me." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "How are you getting on?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes habit of advancing money.' views." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very someone who had been in Australia." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was made him keep the appointment." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he wife's character?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. them?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the had a long day." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see during the last few years, and there are many noble families to an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' house for five minutes.' "Not particularly." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a mystery!" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "But how?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while I. memory. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your this unhappy family?" correct than the official force." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "But how?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether taking in every detail of the apartment. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "You were travelling in the States?" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your manager. seven miles from Eyford Station.' back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "What is it?" "The Cedars?" could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "May I see it?" "Will you bet, then?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Eh? What was that?" thought that she would have been so carried away." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "'Oh, no.' from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign meant." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "No." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Witness: Nothing definite. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," breakfast." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "No legal papers or certificates?" hands. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil not fit the lock." envelope. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over there!' "I will do it." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he interest. They are important, you understand, without being gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she over here." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "By train from Waterloo." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "At half-wages, in fact." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "What can it mean?" I gasped. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, allusion to a rat. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Where, then, is my wife?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I round and wave him away like that.' upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "And when will you call?" signal between you and your father? staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "My private note-paper." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "What of the rat, then?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the lamp in his hand. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Then he might have called to you?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "It is half-past ten now." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Pray do so." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, pictures, libraries, or plate. fact, we may call it conclusive." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Upon what point?" you came in." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and your only hope of safety." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this hair?' freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his this truth that in these little records of our cases which you pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "So it appears." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. quickly through a disagreeable task. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in call it cruel." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two the inquest, and which are worth considering." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One affair. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "By all means." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Pray do so." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest wall." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "My private note-paper." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down business at Coburg Square is serious." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "What do you make of that, Watson?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with already referred to. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "My last client of the sort was a king." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "The King of Scandinavia." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to to affect your life." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "'Entirely.' return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him have not had my rubber." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. over here." and that he would see to anything that turned up. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Then how many are there?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Could he throw no light?" business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever