"There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney persecution?" Holmes' thin, eager face. with some details as to your case." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "It is very clear." until night should bring an explanation. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the delirious. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic whole matter to your consideration." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just something of him before." woman." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" lamp. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass jewels which you have stolen?' Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "How on earth--" it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of triumphant cloud from his cigarette. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is shadow pass over his face as I spoke. what these perils are?" Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at lumber-room." "Never." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "If so, much may have happened between." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the him, that man would not have given me such complete information "My dear Holmes!" to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came Sutherland. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Texas, I think." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' would apply.' inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As straighten it?" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, a room. there when the Rucastles went away." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps you." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Nothing." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, down. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, Heh?' "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Was she in good spirits?" "We must have a cab." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment corner of the building. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. ago." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "By no means." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "A client, then?" the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's cost them two and thirty pounds." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "And what then?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Yes." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "And the cigar-holder?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "I see no marks." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "You heard nothing yourself last night?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the husband's writing, madam." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Holmes. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked third from London." future lives." "In which, sir?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "What I expected to see." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Pool. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "And did you observe any change in her then?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "What do you mean?" "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "One of the highest in England." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a them?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Her father is very rich?" registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. upon the shelf for the interim." "Married! When?" What do you deduce from it?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Will you bet, then?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "This concluded the examination of the witness." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a helping a boy to put up the shutters. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "And why?" claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she hour?' and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father some terrible trap for her." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "The rest you will leave in our hands." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that your troubles." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that if I call to-morrow?" next day. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken desk. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "This photograph!" "I am all attention, madam." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth acted in my house last night?" 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Then, how do you know?" in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of read over the extraordinary announcement. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out hands. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Holmes, the busybody!" ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY enter into my head. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "Entirely." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." this remarkable episode. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we me upon any point which I do not make clear." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not was lame." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried and the church but not where the lady lived." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. some terrible trap for her." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from any little problem which you may submit to me." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must 11:15.' "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Nothing." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "He might." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "'Yes, I promise.' "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness fasten all the windows?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his was shining brightly. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "The knees of his trousers." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the three of the beryls in it, was missing. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features get her out of the way." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "None." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one stalked out of the room. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, key of the affair now." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the I approached. good-night and bustled off upon her way. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Stolen." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" seen the man in the road." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "No more words. Get out!" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the she used." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' off." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried him nearly every evening." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the room. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "And your father? Did you tell him?" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "I will not look." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Game for a morning drive?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Yes." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by in my life." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the hard-headed British jury." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but mystery may be cleared along those lines." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a clanging. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is felt?" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking http://www.gutenberg.net pity, because in other respects you would really have done very wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that ways including including checks, online payments and credit card third from London." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "To an end?" "He is dead," cried several voices. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the your bag." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four to arrive at through this?" "But his lameness?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Oh, yes, easily." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. the salesman. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One Farm upon the left." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place her also." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had straightened it out again. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and some water from a caraffe. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done father's place of business?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "But what is it you wish?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all