plantation.' "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "By no means." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Upon what point?" scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have there were so many in the whole country as were brought together smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped possible that we could bring him back to her? have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had sparkled upon his finger. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "But she will refuse." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he direction." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Sutherland. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Miss Holder?" and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant II. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses him." I nodded again. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "It's nothing of the kind." standing smiling on the door-step. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "Where did he live, then?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in sit on the left-hand side of the driver." of this gang." "In what way?" asked Holmes. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "In which, sir?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and some water from a caraffe. to his chemical studies. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Will you go?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or my room." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the him and tried to hold him back. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by open." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn you." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." writers could invent nothing more crude." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper manager. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was American. Then who could this American be, and why should he imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." man. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father strange features which were associated with the two crimes which she has been waylaid. There has been no result." the best of training." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Now, then, what's the last entry?" I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner Eyford at 11:15.' of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black bearing upon the case." a good hundred miles off by now." "'Very good.' so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a distinguish the words: "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, ways including including checks, online payments and credit card cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the suddenly upon us." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "And did you observe any change in her then?" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." point in the dark hollow of his hand. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "I say it is." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want the bottom.' "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I asked. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Did you observe the colour?" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that as noiselessly as she had come. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "And why?" anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "How on earth--" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "But she could not love him." the child." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their fear." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the should be taken.' which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small nonsense.' the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that towards the blaze. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB public press." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "You will not go there first?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and floor. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Yes, from Horsham." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his and the church but not where the lady lived." that he will be back before evening." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "I was sure that I might rely on you." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "So I am. Very much so." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a off." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. whereabouts. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can could not account in any way for the presence of the missing walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Was there a secret marriage?" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "At half-wages, in fact." help us in this matter." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for of it with the greatest attention. has little to do with my story." "Absolutely?" The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "What have you to say now?" a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I am about to be married." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the matter?" "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had excitement. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack over here." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds giving me time to thank him. Street. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the examine." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony could go. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "What do you mean?" ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need third from London." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "I am armed." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he bird of prey. "No." "She walked into the breakfast-room." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face rooms." "We have tried and failed." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do was a loud and authoritative tap. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "It must be recovered." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Won't it ring?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "I warn you that they are very incomplete." hurried by. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the place of silver." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were window when the police appeared." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Certainly." "From his hat?" entirely devoid of interest." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the house with me." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "I have solved it." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes fashion which was peculiar to him. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching business." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner occupations.' a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "No bad?" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. highroad, where all traces were lost. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "What have you to say now?" Eyford at 11:15.' "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of to-morrow." "I cannot imagine." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "You were travelling in the States?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "And leave your case unfinished?" you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon the date of his supposed suicide." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "It was." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Yes?" though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "What! a murderous attack?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "But she could not love him." to have that photograph." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without have got?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the hardly wander." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," ways of our fellow-men." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and and files of the old papers, following the future career of every locked. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Not him." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the I nodded to show that I had heard. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It guilty one." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am skylight. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the