nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been them present such singular features as the strange train of pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "It is no ordinary one." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post have accepted such a situation. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Why serious?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Yes." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: His name is Francis Prosper." he. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Yes, but only for you and me." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' me upon any point which I do not make clear." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon Dr. Gregory B. Newby even so self-evident a thing as that." lamp in his hand. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." read it out to me." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his colour had been driven from his face. foot. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "'Yes, sir.' "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "And when will you call?" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in shoulder. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "But you have hopes?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "But we can't all be." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "I was mad--insane." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is to go into your room and bar your shutters?" Clair, of Lee." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, good-night and bustled off upon her way. "He slept on the premises." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, events, Mr. Windibank!" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out himself to tell his story. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his answer." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and What do you deduce from it?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the tied." words came to my lips. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Seven!" I answered. II. anything to do with the matter?" avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to it were putty." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, was a perfect sample of the class. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "'Is 4 pounds a week.' You want to know what became of those geese?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as and that he would see to anything that turned up. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "That is possible." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "In which, sir?" into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "'Where to?' This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my as noiselessly as she had come. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" plantation.' "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands will he say when he returns?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up distinguish the words: "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? get the tickets." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "And how in the world did you find them?" "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Yes, that is the Crown." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had use an arc-and-compass breastpin." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he was a lad." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he the best of training." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Very. But will he see it?" "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I point our research must commence, and we will begin it by to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "'Never,' said I. again before evening." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course followed. enter into my head. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." locked. "By all means." himself to tell his story. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he and wait." new acquaintance to Baker Street. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Nothing." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "I am to be neutral?" Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "I beg pardon." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an useful material for showing traces. The double line a little written. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and on re-entering her father's house?" "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to roused himself from his reverie. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "'There is a drive, then?' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about on re-entering her father's house?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "BALLARAT." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "No sign of it?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "They are typewritten," I remarked. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling night.' said he. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the Foundation you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a at a side door. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the allusion to a rat. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Witness: Nothing definite. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for gone. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "I will not look." feature." McCarthy's innocence. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The things are very often connected not with the larger but with the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "My last client of the sort was a king." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "I would pay ten." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into it with his own hands." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Where does the thing come from?' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. cigars in the box." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where events, Mr. Windibank!" It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to one of the states of the Union." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he other lovers by making love himself." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "You have it, sir, just as it happened." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your train.' unprofitable." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no begun to whiten, even as mine has." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily your most interesting statement." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson tear off another piece?' "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and night.' said he. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had helping a boy to put up the shutters. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Certainly." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Was she in good spirits?" every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "No legal papers or certificates?" with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in were unconscious?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and call it cruel." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached strong reason behind." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "In heaven's name, what for?" without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the to a light-house. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "You are all wrong." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the there has been an enclosure here!" find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for yourselves in at night?" geese which you supplied to the Alpha." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in read it out to me." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "You have carte blanche." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice against a man in the prime of life?" orange pips. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I was sure that I might rely on you." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in chill to my heart. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Nothing?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Nothing." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "No, but the enclosure is." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." you?' back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon that you saw all that I did." Eyford." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and and put his glass in his pocket. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "And why in hopes?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "To ruin me." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "You have but to name it." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her had died away into the silence from which it rose. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "What! Had he lost his wife?" shoulder; "he's all right." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she sofa. This way, please!" "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "But to whom?" "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as he died? every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all even of instruction." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and of receipt of the work. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "You think that he is dead?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "I have come for advice." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout said he. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "'Most admirably.' air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "I am armed." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "That is it on the dressing-table." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather