brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "'A dozen yards or so.' which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "'Then let me do so?' weary and pale-looking. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland friends, not even his own brother. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." your sleep?' introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency grasp, he hurried from the room. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Never to return." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence sparkled upon his finger. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera said he. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Do you know him?" "Proceed, then." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had rose-bushes. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Was there a secret marriage?" http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Well, some hundreds of times." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' papers on the sundial.'" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just charge against him will break down." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The he bowed and left the room without another word. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became away in different directions, and I went off to make my own gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'You doubt its value?' he asked. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. like that before?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "How often?" "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the spark where all is dark to me." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of suddenly upon us." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend redistribution. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and which are rolled in Rotterdam." late!' Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the really the only notable feature about the thing." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, some terrible trap for her." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography to Leatherhead. this man was intellectual?" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I figure." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "He slept on the premises." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "His face fell immediately. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will but preventing her from injuring another. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Oh, the cause is excellent!" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of words came to my lips. fatally injured? was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will wife's character?" had this final quarrel? perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend you give your casting vote to?" recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "None." him, that man would not have given me such complete information "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "At what time?" than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "You have it, sir, just as it happened." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian any." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." heavy and sharp instrument." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever hurried by. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "'Quite sure, dad.' the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "You have it, sir, just as it happened." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' means taking possession of that which another person has a prior carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may events, Mr. Windibank!" in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to bore every mark of being an average commonplace British the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at face and glided from the room. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in carpenter." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own directly by questioning you." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs the ceiling. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" infinite languor in his face. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Then he might have called to you?" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely he died? "Yesterday." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his fait accompli?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate cigar and let me expound." there has been an enclosure here!" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Very truly yours, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "You forget that I know nothing about it." not personally threatened." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." way in everything. success. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "But the mystery?" with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Yes, that is the Crown." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most to arrive at through this?" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "But he might be a bachelor." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some outside. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after business?" "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "I am in hopes that she does." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "How did you trace it, then?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Yes, it would be as well." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly drawing your inferences." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not before, for it was considerably after midnight. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. McCarthy." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when into her hand at the door and which lured her within their my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen tightly behind him. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "No sign of it?" "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, and put his glass in his pocket. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend and wait." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear the King without delay." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. I think that I could be of assistance to you." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all good for you to do.' his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Proceed, then." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "But to whom?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "You will not go there first?" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "I am to be neutral?" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated and put his glass in his pocket. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which followed. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "He disappeared so suddenly." disturbance in my wife." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If money should be paid at once.' lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to beg that you will break it off." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did companion quietly. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am yourselves in at night?" to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. you in your example." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her she might be summoned. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me purpose of examination. depend upon your compliance." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a it." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of as noiselessly as she had come. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to You can understand that this register and diary may implicate lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of entirely lost his self-respect." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot may have an influence upon European history." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "I cannot imagine." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how it." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Precisely." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you married her." not as remarkable as your advertisement." "The landlord of the Alpha." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged said he. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's your own bird, so if you wish--" I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Get out!" said he. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds excitement. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. money should be paid at once.' successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered searched, without anything being found which could incriminate And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down wife's character?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "You saw the ventilator, too?" directors, with the result that you have seen." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Street. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to late!' correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "The Coroner: What do you mean? "And sit in the dark?" "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found woman." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in them present such singular features as the strange train of could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the laugh and put his lips to my ear. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his what these perils are?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "May I see it?" matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "But his left-handedness." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of colour had been driven from his face. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after clanging. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "How often?" were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "You have the photograph?" "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have from the brougham. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading straighten it?" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose weigh very heavily upon my conscience." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "'Tell me all about it,' said I.