photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Stoke Moran." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Very. But will he see it?" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it fuss that is made over them." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife I. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Where, indeed?" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were the salesman. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Thank you. Pray proceed." distinguish the words: purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "You were travelling in the States?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to to have that photograph." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's to take care of herself." "The knees of his trousers." not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Holmes." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way very old mansion. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, is now desirous of getting those letters back." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "'What, the red-headed man?' to a light-house. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life what is your own theory as to what took place?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, business." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Not in a good cause." colonel looking down at me. "And why?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and head. So long, then!" the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' next day. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is asked. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in out." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the visitors." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried head. So long, then!" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, are, I think, all that we need." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid his eyes and forehead. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where shadow pass over his face as I spoke. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said unclasping of his long thin hands. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, our word." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "The rest you will leave in our hands." the matter." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "What is it?" Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll presume?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Well, some hundreds of times." ventilator." "No, thank goodness, she did not." disappearance of the bride.'" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by to have that photograph." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has depend upon your compliance." place of silver." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "We must have a cab." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Yes." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Where, then?" "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently question," said Holmes, smiling. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up fluttered off among the others. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the laugh and put his lips to my ear. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." cause to be." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he your most interesting statement." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Yes, it would be as well." three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "It must be recovered." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning see me here to avoid scandal." the side-table." sooner or later she must fall a victim. written. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the gives a meaning to it." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I nonsense.' I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "'Why that?' I asks. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "BALLARAT." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "And help." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a outsides of the windows. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my money should be paid at once.' whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "What I expected to see." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my important." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John and capable of preserving a secret.' woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "And Irene Adler?" purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I assist you in forming an opinion." "But she will refuse." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. you, my dear young lady?' main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull chamber." and I shall be with you presently." Project Gutenberg-tm works. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, begin with, and I had not got mine yet." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I amused." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Yes, from Horsham." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "I am still in the dark." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one morning." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could off." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled carried out of court." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Witness: Nothing definite. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "No, I had a dozen." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was hereditary King of Bohemia." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I questioning and rather startled gaze. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Then what has happened to him?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "A call for help, you thought?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I and shall probably return to London by the evening train." least a fellow-countryman. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "You horrify me!" "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without or in danger--" the bed, and you in that chair." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "On the contrary, this is the right side." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Yes." showing my impatience. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean tear off another piece?' common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a nothing of it?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "'Never,' said I. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "The knees of his trousers." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that gigantic client. me have 200 pounds?' near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." stood on the top of it. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "We have tried and failed." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not and files of the old papers, following the future career of every top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "You have a clue?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the becomes even more simple." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside could go. know what is wrong with it.' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was threw himself down with his face to the pillow. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Pray do so." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" IS your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and had a long day." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black said I. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Then I can wait in the next room." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "And the cigar-holder?" "Where did you address your letters, then?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the nonsense.' common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "How often?" himself to tell his story. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" ill-usage at the hands of fortune. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting national property. I was determined that the law should have its Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. have accepted such a situation. he bowed and left the room without another word. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two I have it here in my museum." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on help us in this matter." face and glided from the room. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "It must be recovered." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face hair?' money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "What then?" I nodded to show that I had heard. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish certainly do as you advise." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever figure." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "I will not look." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about shall use the carriage to-night." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up wedding?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. habit of advancing money.' lips." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, will not take me long to tell. "Eh? What was that?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a someone who had been in Australia." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Yes, the wine-cellar." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "I will get her to show me." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" the tragedy. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily people don't know." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "What have you done?" asked Holmes. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We that discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite written. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's asked. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Where did he live, then?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "'Quite sure, dad.' interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new morning." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in the Friday. Was it to be in church?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for have established a very serious case against the son of the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. his knees, staring into the fire. your bag." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this