an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "He might." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a shall not find me ungrateful." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "I should wish to." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort husband's writing, madam." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "It looks newer than the other things?" door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Yes." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "But she could not love him." intrusion of other matters." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly congratulate you again." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his October 9, 1890. stepfather?" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. affair. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "'About the same.' find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. coroner's jury." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be any more." gentleman's clothes. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "I have solved it." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the Miss Holder?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss extraordinary contortions. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had Sholtos." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Then I shall certainly come." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "But you were on a friendly footing?" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not secret." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. bare slabs of marble. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On redistribution. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for States. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "That is unusual in a young girl." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened forbidden door. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. garden below. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it The police have openly confessed that they can at present make footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Eyford." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "What will you say?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without see me here to avoid scandal." gone. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "'Quite sure, dad.' idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the next day. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite someone who had been in Australia." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that was lame." the Red-headed League." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "I assure you that I am in your hands." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the not interfere, come what may. You understand?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "I assure you that I am in your hands." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. where she found matters as described by the last witness. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him have one." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "I have my revolver," said I. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their public press." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "How many? I don't know." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" strong reason behind." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "But you have hopes?" case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. carried out of court." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements father's place of business?" its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "I guessed as much." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his extraordinary contortions. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, long narrative. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "You saw the ventilator, too?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down not within a twentieth part of the market price." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white call the police, let the police find what they can.' but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "It goes to the housekeeper's room." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "My dear Holmes!" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the becomes even more simple." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a within hail.' "Yes, at the mines." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch matters immensely." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and other lovers by making love himself." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was system of imprisonment?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Munro.' cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Come in!" said he. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the late." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an and no precautions can guard against." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "My dear Holmes!" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "How often?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Holmes." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a had this final quarrel? homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "You horrify me." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "'Is purely nominal.' slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, have one." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "I say that I have solved it." to surprise her." writers could invent nothing more crude." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "You saw the ventilator, too?" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the will not take me long to tell. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the will find little credit to be gained out of this case." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered British peeress.'" husband's writing, madam." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, other, as fresh and trim as possible. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love such person." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly You can understand that this register and diary may implicate to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both geese which you supplied to the Alpha." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the indiscretion." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." past. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my pressing in one house as in another. Mrs. Toller serenely. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and house for five minutes.' the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Never." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to intrusion of other matters." "That is unusual in a young girl." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "He said too much." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." believe that I should never have any practice at all. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to was not a bird to be seen there. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. before, for it was considerably after midnight. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Your French gold?" distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to the salesman. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." one which it was hard to resist. "Why did you beat the pavement?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" house for five minutes.' the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "And Irene Adler?" extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was the salesman. "That is it on the dressing-table." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I are, and they are waiting for us." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "In the cells." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention for its centre. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was assist you in forming an opinion." "And it is--" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you from you?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against intimate personal affairs in this public manner." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "What can you not understand?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the himself in a perplexing position. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or whole matter to your consideration." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. awaited us upon the table. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My train from Paddington which would bring you there at about the bottom.' quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the child." whereabouts. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. long narrative. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to asked. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in not personally threatened." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "That sounds a little paradoxical." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in particular state visit http://pglaf.org acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made wanted for ourselves." straighten it?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is some city in a dream. "Only as much as we can deduce." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "And you don't know his address?" following enigmatical notices: did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a get the tickets." kind enough to tell me what I should do." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so a monotonous occupation." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It and have this put in the evening papers." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "I have solved it." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a disappearance of the bride.'" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." gone. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to pierced for earrings?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "No, my brougham is waiting." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. behind me. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "'Quite sure, dad.' not use it unless it is absolutely needed."