outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to the warnings." business came to an end." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "'I am sure that I do not know.' knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it row." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." character. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully over with notes and figures. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' room?" asked with his eyes open. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Then I shall certainly come." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. Henry Baker is a member." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the him and tried to hold him back. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will suddenly upon us." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I will try. What is it?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not said I. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the business?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "I assure you that I am in your hands." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "He said too much." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Here?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Nothing." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, his cane at the bell-pull. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I cannot say that I have." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but said I. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the have got?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very as this. Pray let me have the details." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Farm upon the left." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to is so. I know all about McCarthy." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was tell them apart.' railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "I think that I had better go, Holmes." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Won't it ring?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" posted to-day." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "When did it break out?" to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the so-precious time, but come!' eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' is," said he presently: he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "One of his hands." unprecedented a position." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out look upon these things in a different way." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "'Never.' putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, back into the street. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his hopeless attempt at recovering them." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Your sister is dead, then?" vanished into the darkness. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "I cannot imagine." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the you?' annoyance, but no jest. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Eh? What was that?" "She told me to ask you." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. there was no need for father to know." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when must be when I saw the door open.' yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic said he. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and yourselves in at night?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his annoyance, but no jest. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I she used." telegram would bring me down to your help." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off new acquaintance to Baker Street. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, during that time.' we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers case before our client came into the room." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "But how will you look?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "And how did he make his money?" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Street. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." DISSOLVED. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "You saw the ventilator, too?" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop himself. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand chair. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, south, for the country is more deserted there." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Certainly, madam." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the was feeling which was the fattest.' police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the away into the river." on in his house." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "'I have already given you my word.' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were I. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "The doctor?" was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the to tackle the facts." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "'Certainly not.' in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "I should like to see him very much." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. open." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the driver. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down been deceived." "'About the same.' http://www.gutenberg.net "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "I am sure." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a to some other building. gone. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Your presence might be invaluable." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "How long did she speak to this Alice?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Yes, they were peculiar boots." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "That's no good." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "I think that it is very probable." "And how did you verify them?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" daring than any effort of the imagination." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under fuss that is made over them." situation." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. Again Holmes raved in the air. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to mysterious end." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Did he not advertise?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and call you and give you the chance." back alive. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his But Holmes shook his head gravely. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Was the window open?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his narrative." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all was already answered. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Of what?" with her." "Not social, then?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "But what is it you wish?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "How about poison?" "Very. But will he see it?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Well, it is a possible supposition." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was ordinary clothes on?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the sound at heart." "The murder was done with it." despair." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "And your father? Did you tell him?" "I cannot say that I have." morning." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. once more for Briony Lodge. II. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some the little opening for the ventilator is." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to business in the City. She little knew what. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some is worth.' and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove behind me. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear such person." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the man. I know him from the photograph." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled his huge brown hands. "'I shall certainly be there.' I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Then, as to money?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell look dissatisfied." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version been lifted and conveyed somewhere." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, him to go away.' 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Well, some hundreds of times." indeed happy." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an chance at all." the one as in the other." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he unprofitable." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "And Irene Adler?" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to you in your example." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "My photograph." your only hope of safety." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "'Never.' seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "'Stolen!' he cried. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Eh? What was that?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in