wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You shall use the carriage to-night." address. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit me. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Yes." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. the inquest, and which are worth considering." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the the date of his supposed suicide." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "You saw the ventilator, too?" room?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps not come at once?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to eat it." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "'Ten to two.' and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross round and wave him away like that.' should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward in this note: India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "What is it?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name go--none." "Bought." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. to a more successful conclusion." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I be there in time for your coming." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "'Where could I find him?' Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I made him keep the appointment." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Frequently." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond your room." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on observed. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Precisely." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang chill to my heart. "Was she in good spirits?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the seem to you to be relevant or not." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by shoulder; "he's all right." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "What do you make of that, Watson?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "To ruin me." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, investigation." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Indeed! Whose, then?" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "And what then?" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the flock.' the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of orange pips. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Married! When?" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address astonishment. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his business matters.' face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was other lovers by making love himself." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much you in your example." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and anything to a woman, for she would have her way." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my province." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes something of him before." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to a monotonous occupation." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' himself in a perplexing position. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "The doctor?" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "She told me to ask you." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "And how?" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I never have." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a at once, for I have only half an hour." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "You forget that I know nothing about it." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "What?" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and families. Now for the facts. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding arrangements." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy leave you to your papers for a little." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "I say that I have solved it." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up call for protection in the marriage market, for the present her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. joking. "'Certainly,' I answered. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I papers must be those that are destroyed.' someone who had been in Australia." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had help us in this matter." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the side-table." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did direction." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "And why in hopes?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you never will be, entirely cleared up. your only hope of safety." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of before the coroner and the police-court." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big death." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS had this final quarrel? chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying one else, I think." with her." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "What have you to say now?" delighted to hear it," he said. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; sooner or later she must fall a victim. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had criminal. We have already had experience of such." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with is worth.' with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "He is dead," cried several voices. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Did you observe the colour?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my Sutherland?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he the Red-headed League." some city in a dream. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, events, Mr. Windibank!" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" that I can to serve you." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I breakfast?" dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely weigh very heavily upon my conscience." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. His smile broadened. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray papers." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, extraordinary contortions. particular state visit http://pglaf.org suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I believe that I should never have any practice at all. Pope's Court. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "That is unusual in a young girl." "I don't believe it." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is know all about it," he snarled. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "You did not overhear what they said?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "At half-wages, in fact." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a despair." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the are windows in it, of course?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "No." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to to-night's adventure." "Get out!" said he. "Precisely so. But how--" which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who learned something! Where are the gems?" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so and no precautions can guard against." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest case before our client came into the room." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to him to be an active member of the medical profession." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Then I shall certainly come." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she Eyford at 11:15.' "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "One of the highest in England." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared respectable self." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of intimate personal affairs in this public manner." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic matter." attention." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "I am to be neutral?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a families. Now for the facts. intrusion of other matters." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for character. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' wedding?" really the only notable feature about the thing." "Get out!" said he. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot residence of the great financier. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern I nodded to show that I had heard. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "I don't believe it." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve The police have openly confessed that they can at present make to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed will he say when he returns?" may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. unprecedented a position." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little enter Dr. Roylott's room." business in the City. She little knew what. was keenly on my guard against him. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that 1.F. rooms." front of me. lectures into a series of tales." companion. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear have got?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Well." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is some mystery and the punishment of some crime." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she introspective fashion. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her The note was undated, and without either signature or address. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I think you a quite exceptional woman." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I have had none more fantastic than this." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Yes." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the open." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling these bleak autumnal evenings." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester were unconscious?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most Mary, has deserted me." "No, distinctly professional." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant night.' said he. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the neither fascinating nor artistic." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room felt the room to be a little close.'