central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "'What do you call purely nominal?' answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the you do it in twenty minutes!' "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, our word." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. events than those which have happened in my own family." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. II. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I papers must be those that are destroyed.' Pool. "I should like to see him very much." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck you give your casting vote to?" locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. on in his house." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "No, I think that I'll take it." "He might." "None." "Witness: Nothing definite. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his works. See paragraph 1.E below. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked these bleak autumnal evenings." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Chief Executive and Director works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Come in!" said he. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass This is what he says: "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "And I to find an enemy." "No more words. Get out!" rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would respectable self." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "What, then?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I beg that you will break it off." friends, not even his own brother. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until business." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what would apply.' furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent morning." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Yes." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If see me here to avoid scandal." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in there has been an enclosure here!" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "My private note-paper." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried undoubtedly my uncle's." "No, my brougham is waiting." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Yes, it was twisted." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'Tell me all about it,' said I. ran thus: quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur outsides of the windows. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what to that open window." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my go back?" excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Stolen." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the was a lad." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "What can you not understand?" "Never." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." asked with his eyes open. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. existence." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she giving me time to thank him. of the vacancies.' "How did that help you?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is your bag." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders your sleep?' finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its here." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my down. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "No, my brougham is waiting." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "But you can know nothing of this?" pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Witness: It was. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon amused." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I colour had been driven from his face. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand fait accompli?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a matter." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "What steps will you take?" I asked. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "I cannot tell." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the to have been novel and of interest." "At the wedding breakfast." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Not I." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us south, for the country is more deserted there." fire. You quite follow me?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "What is it?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Eh? What was that?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the train from Paddington which would bring you there at about determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "'What then?' I asked. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the gigantic client. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "No, thank goodness, she did not." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second I shall communicate with you." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the was a perfect sample of the class. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." what is your own theory as to what took place?" drawing your inferences." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of never will be, entirely cleared up. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off place no limit on the sum I may draw." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight congenial hunt. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Very truly yours, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should You want to know what became of those geese?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Deserted you?" "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is both be extremely obliged.' I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There light and attacked it." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when said he. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Upon what point?" "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you is so. I know all about McCarthy." Edgeware Road. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Certainly, madam." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon Holmes. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Certainly." second." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Now, then, what's the last entry?" have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty within hail.' of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been meant it for the best. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "And who is her maid?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able stood on the top of it. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "But how?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were vanished into the darkness. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It breakfast." "'Never.' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is strength." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "And that is--" were unconscious?" with some details as to your case." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the fled together." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: tell me that you intended to go into harness." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four exactly what you advise." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' enough to aid us in our search." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "'Yes, I promise.' forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the vanished into the darkness. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "To an English lawyer named Norton." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than have not had my rubber." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting man. I know him from the photograph." "Certainly." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and she used." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." be best to do. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "From his hat?" a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." IS "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight awaited us upon the table. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind conceal it?" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell particular state visit http://pglaf.org connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in I think that I could be of assistance to you." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "'Which dealer's?' 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, went to the Alpha were town bred." your sleep?' see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking of it with the greatest attention. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "None." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is plantation.' him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Certainly." and have this put in the evening papers." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "'Yes.' justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE chair. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your he. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." south, for the country is more deserted there." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper arrangements." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "So it appears." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while 'please.'" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as my room." "An accident, I presume?" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "No, finished." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.'