indeed happy." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "So I am. Very much so." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this hurried by. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Here?" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I me what he had done with the three missing stones. skylight. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "And your mother is alive?" They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. and looked back. plantation.' "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind forbidden door. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. empty. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper you." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the excitement. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "What! a murderous attack?" been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set of." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had unprecedented a position." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." to tackle the facts." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "'Ten to two.' quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. advice." attention." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Have you her photograph?" beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed to that open window." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like take the flies, but not before." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "My dear Holmes!" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well even of instruction." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I thirty. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements My friend smiled. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Dr. Becher's." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Ah, but I was recommended to you." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "It surprised me." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." It may be so in this case, also." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this be.' "Witness: It was. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of then?" "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George call for it in person on Monday morning.' admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. my secret was safe in his possession. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He you for a few hours?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her the King without delay." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my certainly not very gracious." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." your own bird, so if you wish--" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Then he might have called to you?" off." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Yes." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Why serious?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to that you wished to speak to me?' family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and unkempt, staring out at me. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "What! You do not mean bodies?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and over here." "We have tried and failed." cause to be." "'I shall certainly be there.' home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. Farm upon the left." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "I think that I had better go, Holmes." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went populous neighbourhood." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she fatally injured? "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional entirely devoid of interest." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Holmes, the busybody!" "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "He said that you could solve anything." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Stolen." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "This concluded the examination of the witness." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we pressing in one house as in another. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "'Quite sure, dad.' her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't official police." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as husband's writing, madam." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." to affect your life." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Thank you. And your address?" that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "An accident, I presume?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB of." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the of his shoulders. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Yes, certainly." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still you." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him The events in question occurred in the early days of my down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Nothing." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "No, I had a dozen." fattened it expressly for you.' "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "But we can't all be." you give your casting vote to?" His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be o'clock is it?" piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, the inquest, and which are worth considering." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if golden eyeglasses. should be so warm over such a trifle." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a for the market.' help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "It is very clear." "You saw the ventilator, too?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down a very grave face. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, used to be." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" persecution?" "No, distinctly professional." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring and no precautions can guard against." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but main points of my analysis." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my emerged. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black strength in the others." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in in your London, you will know that the office of the company is lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; Edgeware Road. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in was a loud and authoritative tap. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, the dangers which encompass me." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "'And what salary do you ask?' turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by think, you have already met." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling weapon." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is were new raised from a basin. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A During two years I have had three consultations and one small broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our an introduction to him?" "'Never.' I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'Entirely.' drove away. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her is so. I know all about McCarthy." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "None." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Precisely so. But how--" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Because he was handy and would come cheap." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that definite end. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "In which, sir?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "And I." and have this put in the evening papers." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers retorted upon me, and I on you." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Proceed, then." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Here?" the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I see many objections to any such theory." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life into her hand at the door and which lured her within their with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, back to my heart. overpowering excitement and concern. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Pray let us have it, for all that." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. if she died from some sudden fright." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I disappearance of the bride.'" forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had