in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made for the market.' "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a begun to whiten, even as mine has." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do I am not easy in my mind about them." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "I will, Miss Turner." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Yes, all." heavily into it. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie voice. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I deduce something from that?" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR head. So long, then!" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "How can you tell that?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any I was concerned in it." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the date of his supposed suicide." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Miss Holder?" them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "To an English lawyer named Norton." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the stable lane now." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may that you saw all that I did." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is indeed happy." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "And from a noble client?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" standing smiling on the door-step. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody meant it for the best. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a must be when I saw the door open.' "What can you not understand?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the very morning of my second wedding." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide corner of the building. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "How are you getting on?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Certainly." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called into the room. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "What will you say?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain quick march!" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew might help us?" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter exactly what you advise." to surprise her." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Was there a secret marriage?" "In heaven's name, what for?" thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "So I have heard." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary said he at last. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in his wife has ceased to love him." must compliment you." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Then I am your man." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of like gravel from a pit.' the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the obstinate." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in strength in the others." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many himself in a perplexing position. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "My stepfather's business papers." prepare for the new role I have to play." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have me." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more in my life." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally if she died from some sudden fright." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal the best of training." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own me upon any point which I do not make clear." Have you good authority for what you say?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do I was concerned in it." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, the salesman. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Then I shall certainly come." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length indiscretion." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Was your sister dressed?" "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "Will you go?" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He this unhappy family?" over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "And you thought he was pulled back?" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the the inner apartment." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just Countess of Morcar's?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. way in." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon that he has suffered." of a light. see me here to avoid scandal." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for indeed happy." awaited us upon the table. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window License. You must require such a user to return or "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "You horrify me." "A greater distance to travel." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong tell him that I know him to be innocent." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of mysterious business." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and help us in this matter." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was trying to your nerves." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside Street. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Absolutely none." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he ashen face. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly of the way of danger. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "The rest you will leave in our hands." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to vault. not within a twentieth part of the market price." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Certainly, madam." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Ten will be early enough." "He disappeared so suddenly." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most breakfast and whispered something to her husband. three fields round his house, and there he would take his were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Dr. Becher's." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion shall not find me ungrateful." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the one as in the other." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You and wait." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "But how did you gain them?" "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." one of them." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "But she will refuse." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. newspaper selections." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work never came back." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few gentleman's clothes. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Pray let us have it, for all that." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Here?" which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be without success. At last the little money which I had saved began home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Street. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Yes." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up unclasping of his long thin hands. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Stoke Moran?" said he. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, case before our client came into the room." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Whose house is it?" "It is no ordinary one." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the and inquire as to the address." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "When did she vanish, then?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "'And what salary do you ask?' which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Yes." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the lamp in his hand. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his been anything against him. He had for years been known as a more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "And you don't know his address?" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have made him keep the appointment." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "What then?" prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. respectable self." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "'Certainly not.' sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is away to you." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are affair. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Where does the thing come from?' "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before Holmes." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear woman." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr.