other lovers by making love himself." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, and all of them with the keenest interest. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "And when will you call?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "What have you done?" asked Holmes. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Perhaps I have." Chief Executive and Director next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered My friend smiled. "What then?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon the armchair which I pushed forward for him. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': and the colonel ushered me in. "It must be recovered." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Ten will be early enough." chamber." "That you are never beaten." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "You have the photograph?" Surrey." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Well, some hundreds of times." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Game for a morning drive?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and geese which you supplied to the Alpha." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of married her." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Where is it, then?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round walking." "Game for a morning drive?" nice household for a young lady." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and into the bag, and made for the door. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll sentimental considerations in the background which would induce the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Yes." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced clang of the bell. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Where to?" of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Where, indeed?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll again, where I was soon asleep. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Precisely." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for made his money." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the one which it was hard to resist. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not had formerly been in part my own. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I this poor creature." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what the stable lane now." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the matter?" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "And did you observe any change in her then?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head tell him that I know him to be innocent." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "And from a noble client?" interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by are windows in it, of course?" maiden herself was most instructive." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second jewels which you have stolen?' headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by cheerful." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I But Holmes shook his head gravely. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party persecution?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were DISSOLVED. "I am to be neutral?" The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the all?" "'Where to?' "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "'There is a drive, then?' Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a His smile broadened. "Ample." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business it means?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave take the flies, but not before." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Countess of Morcar's?" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and entirely lost his self-respect." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "We must sit without light. He would see it through the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "In the cells." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." tapping his fingers upon the table. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you said Mr. Holder. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Where, then, is my wife?" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "The landlord of the Alpha." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of mystery." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "No, I think that I'll take it." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "She told me to ask you." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith presented more singular features than that which was associated "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the situation." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "That is not always so easy." happened." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "You know me, then?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had residence of the great financier. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Yes." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Oh, the cause is excellent!" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" nothing of it?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "'Never,' said I. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or she might be summoned. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "No." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the business." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." strong and stiff." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my the child." chance at all." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a she slowly sank and died without having recovered her There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had tell him that I know him to be innocent." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion out." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less danger is over." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself disturbance in my wife." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I was keenly on my guard against him. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town to-night." as he folded up the epistle. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "'As governess?' Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you did not hear it also.' practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the deduce something from that?" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. them, and came down just as you departed. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "And the cigar-holder?" hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to ventilator." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both husband's writing, madam." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two have been better. It is all right." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out wedding?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Very truly yours, you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any now. It seems that there had been some informality about their these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly best detective that ever lived. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place unprofitable." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some unprecedented a position." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. off." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is outsides of the windows. "Stoke Moran?" said he. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." despaired of." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "'I have heard so.' knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw look upon these things in a different way." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I matter." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "An accident, I presume?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may wedding?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the I was concerned in it." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "But what is it you wish?" dear old homesteads?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to other lovers by making love himself." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger families. Now for the facts. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded in the port of London." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps you." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "I cannot imagine." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when skylight. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock throat." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of or in danger--" strength." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and sit on the left-hand side of the driver." certainly do as you advise." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. said I. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "That is not always so easy." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Precisely." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed all?" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were his forehead." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see you came in." "I was sure that I might rely on you." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip ran thus: the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Pray tell us what has happened to you." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who the general public were present, then?" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to train from Paddington which would bring you there at about that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the she to prove their authenticity?" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" hereditary King of Bohemia." at once, for I have only half an hour." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "A call for help, you thought?" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and front of the hall door has given its name to the place.