"Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a the King without delay." remarked. shoulder; "he's all right." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a feature." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply name is different." "I cannot say that I have." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning ourselves in the office." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle is worth.' we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your like that before?" a suggestive one." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "I am all attention, madam." together. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has again before evening." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the place no limit on the sum I may draw." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the to surprise her." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double man. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is was feeling which was the fattest.' "What! a murderous attack?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the for securing the situation." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a the inner apartment." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. nights." the best of training." This is what he says: Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads of your young ladies.' days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the him and tried to hold him back. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. have an American origin." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "What is it, then--a fire?" little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "And how in the world did you find them?" slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Where did he live, then?" eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the with you alone." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite papers on the sundial.'" "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "But his lameness?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction would apply.' "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "And I say east," said my patient. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "I know where it is." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "I am in hopes that she does." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Yes." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, thin legs towards the fire. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident about. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "His face fell immediately. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "I cannot imagine." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client desk. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You detained." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a go--none." "Frequently." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the just ask you whether you had heard it.' should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was retorted upon me, and I on you." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Was there a secret marriage?" "Really! You surprise me." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I woman." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a congenial hunt. what these perils are?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Perhaps we may make them less so." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with foot. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in morning." breakfast?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Holmes rather sternly. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Sholtos." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I desk. "Witness: I must still refuse. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to again before evening." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small better in every way that they should make their position a little of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." which are rolled in Rotterdam." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were galvanised. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle least a fellow-countryman. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Really! You surprise me." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider gigantic client. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "But what will you do?" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me there when the Rucastles went away." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set tell them apart.' she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the heavily into it. "But what will you do?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of companion. leaning back in his chair. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This I am not easy in my mind about them." chair. 'please.'" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low back to my heart. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "'Stolen!' he cried. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of would apply.' might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case the warnings." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" envelope. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Then he might have called to you?" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the made his money." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John may never be exposed to such a temptation." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase him!" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "I promise," said Holmes. to a more successful conclusion." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to it." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Pool. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I shall most certainly do so." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Never." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless upon the white wrist. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my a few minutes he said that it would be all right. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Young McCarthy must be got off, however." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "He is still with you, I presume?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these compunction about shooting them down." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "What can you not understand?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the address. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for over part of the map. "What do you read?" this Miss Turner." call it cruel." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. was it brought him the coronet? "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, or in danger--" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of get her out of the way." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks conceal it?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with round with crates and massive boxes. gentleman's clothes. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of friends, not even his own brother. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is them, and came down just as you departed. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I which it had come upon my father." about here speaks of his kindness to him." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "No, but the enclosure is." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a tapping his fingers upon the table. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have information in his hands the value of which he did not himself his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for were unconscious?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." washing it down with a long draught of water. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' is acting for the best. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to silent! Oh, he will be silent!' disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a you understand?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. public press." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "You have a clue?" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban train from Paddington which would bring you there at about floor. "Seven!" I answered. vault. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me all that?" "Precisely." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "What then?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his not come at once?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from putting in the horse. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert joking. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he help us in this matter." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "'Certainly not.' room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was several quiet little villages up there." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she it right.' so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "What then?"