and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper tear off another piece?' "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "And Irene Adler?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Of Friday, June 19th." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads hurried by. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in your equipment. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to o'clock is it?" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may amused." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "And who is her maid?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." that he has suffered." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently nonsense.' charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." fasten all the windows?" calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window papers must be those that are destroyed.' yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this that the gas is not laid on in his house?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. ago." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, friend's singular character. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "You are certainly joking, Holmes." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "How often?" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. present." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the stones. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "And the cigar-holder?" "He said too much." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and public press." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" that he will be back before evening." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that too. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "I promise," said Holmes. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into observed. "Why? What do you mean?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." colour had been driven from his face. served to weaken the effect. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Sutherland. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real nothing with him." "Here?" "But how?" hair?' carriage. It was a chestnut." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal quite distinctive." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' second." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow the station." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord outside. o'clock is it?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "My photograph." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Where does the thing come from?' The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all for the market.' work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at sneer upon his pale face. have been better. It is all right." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that it means?" "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled views." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the the coroner come to?" of your young ladies.' hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to a good hundred miles off by now." "You were travelling in the States?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. very old mansion. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would lips." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "'In my own bureau.' "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were notes," he said. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of spare." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "No." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a me. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the papers must be those that are destroyed.' "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" power." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "She walked into the breakfast-room." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. the coronet in his hand?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from questionable one." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the new acquaintance to Baker Street. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has question you as to those details which seem to me to be most but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear bled considerably." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap Sutherland. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So that I may have something better before very many minutes are seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner spark where all is dark to me." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Who was the criminal, then?" pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the absorbing." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours away to you." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure of this gang." "Yes, he did." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "You have carte blanche." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, goes." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain chill to my heart. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "I was mad--insane." there was no need for father to know." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until a suggestive one." "It is no ordinary one." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can floor. "I was mad--insane." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "So it appears." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to man. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, I shall communicate with you." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" business?" outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and said I. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my forehead. Serpentine Avenue. always that they were such commands as a lady might with "VIOLET HUNTER." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Very much so." "And I say east," said my patient. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "What! Had he lost his wife?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent was used.' dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "What then?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." outside." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the soul! here is her carriage at the door." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "'Why that?' I asks. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "My opinion is in no way altered." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. results." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is sooner or later she must fall a victim. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" own family. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Yes." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "And is that all?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to results." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. written, and locked the door of the office after me. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Yes, he did." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my present." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and was a lad." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his outbreak?" tightly behind him. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither morning." "Why did you beat the pavement?" acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. populous neighbourhood." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already following enigmatical notices: fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Yes." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding always that they were such commands as a lady might with not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to ashen face. had died away into the silence from which it rose. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Heh?' "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was it." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on dates and names. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "In the cells." until night should bring an explanation. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "But she could not love him." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with writing, and yet I know it well." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of been shamefully used." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety use an arc-and-compass breastpin." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow there were so many in the whole country as were brought together sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Do you know him?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "He is still with you, I presume?" once more. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' golden eyeglasses.