successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "We must have a cab." indeed happy." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible key turn in the lock." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "You know me, then?" get the tickets." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "'Certainly,' I answered. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Was your sister dressed?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of telegram would bring me down to your help." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, grasp, he hurried from the room. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and here and I will read it to you: "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke any little problem which you may submit to me." kindly on the shoulder. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that chair. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Yes, all." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; danger is over." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the I was concerned in it." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of his wife has ceased to love him." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "It is true that I have been generally successful." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the matter?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. goes." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. that he has suffered." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the house for five minutes.' "But what harm can there be in that?" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some thin legs towards the fire. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. shall use the carriage to-night." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my quick march!" arms and began to sob in a high treble key. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" once more for Briony Lodge. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Pool. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Foundation had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a your sleep?' "I will, Miss Turner." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "No, distinctly professional." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Upon what point?" and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of *** START: FULL LICENSE *** though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked my friend's incisive reasoning. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "From his hat?" "Was she in good spirits?" fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of particular state visit http://pglaf.org of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you come either from the window or the door. My attention was good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get again on its way. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, wanted for ourselves." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of been able to understand it, in a very few words. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Were they all fastened this morning?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "'Never.' Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the signal between you and your father? the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy vault. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without will take you up to see the machine.' he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I and your relations to her." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "On the contrary, this is the right side." wanted for ourselves." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm if only as a check to my own memory." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is in. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the his huge brown hands. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a were new raised from a basin. which it had come upon my father." me where it went to?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "'Stolen!' he cried. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Yes, at the mines." answered with a sidelong glance. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "She will not sell." suddenly upon us." woven round him. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "But to whom?" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at shaken than I had ever seen him. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Have you it here?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the closely." "You horrify me!" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across second window is the one that I jumped from." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Yes. He waved his hands." you?" bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he his huge brown hands. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her my room." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had been with you?" was it brought him the coronet? he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three had no one to advise her at such a crisis." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Only as much as we can deduce." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Frequently." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the his wife has ceased to love him." "By no means." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "The knees of his trousers." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, during the last few years, and there are many noble families to should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him purpose equally well?" is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike place no limit on the sum I may draw." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. signal between you and your father? enter Dr. Roylott's room." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which not interfere, come what may. You understand?" police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some events than those which have happened in my own family." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Then he might have called to you?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water room. your room." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, eavesdroppers?' difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: coroner's jury." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. wife's character?" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the when your master had gone out." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "At the wedding breakfast." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "No?" clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a corner of the building. grasp, he hurried from the room. "Was your sister dressed?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the not fit the lock." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "In what way?" asked Holmes. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, just ask you whether you had heard it.' information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The you." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Pray continue your narrative." despair." the coronet at all injured?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to me. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous she might be summoned. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my bonnet, and went out." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his him to be an active member of the medical profession." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she stammered. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the bottom.' I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped kindly on the shoulder. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the dangers which encompass me." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, populous neighbourhood." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting to you." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "And why?" explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "And help." be best to do. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think stepfather?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable Leave Paddington by the 11:15." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "No sign of it?" have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "And you thought he was pulled back?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with him to go away.' description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! I leave." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "9th. McCauley cleared. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which her also." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in will not take me long to tell. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "You are hungry," I remarked. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a nonsense.' which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Literary Archive Foundation pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, What do you deduce from it?" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me shall use the carriage to-night." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would and capable of preserving a secret.' may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of chance." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Indeed! Whose, then?" Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other voice. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Where did he live, then?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a ill-usage at the hands of fortune. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your would apply.' walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Mrs. Toller serenely. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the in my life." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled vault. in one or two places in England?' a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the cup of tea. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up shaken than I had ever seen him. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement not as remarkable as your advertisement." instituted." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this