DAMAGE. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Is he quiet?" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "But his lameness?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Tired-looking or fresh?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Pray be precise as to details," said he. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I to his chemical studies. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that enough to aid us in our search." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "I have hopes." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "I am in hopes that she does." "But she will refuse." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "It is very clear." lamp in his hand. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Yes, there are nearly always some there." friends, not even his own brother. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me the very letters. But what is this written above them?' then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' it means?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If this remarkable episode. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." future lives." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, nothing with him." clanging. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Really! You surprise me." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the notes," he said. the loss of it. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. this as likely?" St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has and put his glass in his pocket. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a allusion to a rat. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "How do you know, then?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and to you." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid and effective." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, London for the present?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Tired-looking or fresh?" your equipment. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Yes, that is the Crown." "Was your sister dressed?" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "And the cigar-holder?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to than was visible to me." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train you in yours." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Edgeware Road. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'Where to?' the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has learned something! Where are the gems?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open once more to my work. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "It certainly sounds feasible." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Absolutely none." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Upon what point?" with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged said he. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were point our research must commence, and we will begin it by swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's hurried away. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we all-comprehensive glances. seven miles from Eyford Station.' was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." could gather together that I was able to avert another public in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the affair. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." bedroom door." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "When did she vanish, then?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in yet." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite humiliation." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be miles off. "No legal papers or certificates?" "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to whole matter to your consideration." business came to an end." that I can to serve you." way in everything. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "A greater distance to travel." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "And who is her maid?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." dramatic, in fact." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "You have but to name it." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it existence." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George carriage. It was a chestnut." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain impression behind it as though a window had gently closed address. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Can I be of assistance?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "I am sure." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my read over the extraordinary announcement. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "About a month then." the matter." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with following enigmatical notices: the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as never came back." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some directly by questioning you." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but details." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but wife's character?" in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall to some other building. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "No, finished." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, outside. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the one else, I think." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding awkward doing business with an alias." during that time.' which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should his forehead." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John think, you have already met." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "And help." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "I saw her in conversation with her maid." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put shoulder; "he's all right." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a My friend smiled. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! stepfather?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning you." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips to tackle the facts." daring than any effort of the imagination." "But he might be a bachelor." outside." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly grasp, he hurried from the room. that?' works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain occupations.' This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts nothing of it?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Come in!" said he. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the writing, and yet I know it well." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to that you can jump it.' the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was bare slabs of marble. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would situation." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in intimate personal affairs in this public manner." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "You saw the ventilator, too?" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to front of the hall door has given its name to the place. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming simple cases which are so extremely difficult." power." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a his cane at the bell-pull. rooms." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. emerged. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these some mystery and the punishment of some crime." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue call for it in person on Monday morning.' short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, matter." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Ah, but I was recommended to you." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." case-book, which he consulted. himself in a perplexing position. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, the so-precious time, but come!' corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Where, indeed?" he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. salesman. "Imitated." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of past. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, if she died from some sudden fright." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my I shall communicate with you." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the letters?" Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me writer." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and just called myself is not exactly my own." generous with you in money matters.' from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their depend upon your compliance." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a which should have the effect of calling the attention of the an introduction to him?" to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "When did it break out?" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon envelope. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, III. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Heh?' father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about in the hope of finding them." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "How did that help you?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Eyford." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as tell them apart.' at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for point our research must commence, and we will begin it by crowd. gone before you can get him to hospital." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty other means.' I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. anything to do with the matter?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. carried out of court."