girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently in a friendly supper." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "She will not sell." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "But you can know nothing of this?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "How do you know, then?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "'And what are they worth?' I asked. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with amused." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it dramatic, in fact." enough to aid us in our search." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Then how many are there?" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "How often?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the on re-entering her father's house?" threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every did not hear it also.' refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall occupations.' them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land sufficient punishment." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine back into the street. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from case before our client came into the room." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then have got?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I you understand?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I bedroom door." them?" writers could invent nothing more crude." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same call for it in person on Monday morning.' Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like You can understand that this register and diary may implicate or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah John Swain, of St. Augustine. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. kind enough to tell me what I should do." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." might help us?" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it affair. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our writing, and yet I know it well." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "But to whom?" For additional contact information: his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "I am all attention, madam." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey narrative." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "That is also quite modern," said the lady. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through that I can to serve you." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Eyford at 11:15.' been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who friend's singular character. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "My opinion is in no way altered." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles rose-bushes. "That was it, sir." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "There are none." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "The Coroner: What do you mean? possible that we could bring him back to her? skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "I have come for advice." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; and glanced through. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over some terrible trap for her." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the wife's character?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The only touch the interest." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where at my own good fortune. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "One of his hands." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Not in the least." "If I can be of use." returning from some small jollification and was making his way bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly I approached. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and which it had come upon my father." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet that you wished to speak to me?' rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "What will you say?" centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'In my own bureau.' something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" her also." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, own family. "On the contrary, this is the right side." drove away. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "It looks newer than the other things?" before, for it was considerably after midnight. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall excitement. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three pound a week." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Precisely." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed Does that suggest anything?" "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns newspaper selections." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in photograph?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "No, distinctly professional." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "You horrify me!" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Nor running a chance of arrest?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "It is solved." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person his wife has ceased to love him." examine." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel at a side door. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "No." Pope's Court. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "I see no marks." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the placed his cuttings. "I cannot think." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a your sleep?' this as likely?" "'Never.' problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." the driver. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Certainly." "But it has twice been burgled." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE hardly wander." "Ha! you find it so?" already been minutely examined." in my life." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old of it with the greatest attention. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Seven!" I answered. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her indiscretion." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "So I heard. You have him here?" hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Here?" through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. hardly wander." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer hand, madam?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with your Highness to the police-station?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "You have but to name it." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's is four-and-twenty." "Where, then, is my wife?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to room?" is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely shaken than I had ever seen him. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, friends, not even his own brother. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had what is your own theory as to what took place?" perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the guilty parties." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Entirely." "And Irene Adler?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to your co-operation." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his once more. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Murdered?" important." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is I am not easy in my mind about them." of them has the shutters up.' withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty of this gang." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "'What do you call purely nominal?' when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "'I have heard so.' man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they in my life." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and enter Dr. Roylott's room." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Holmes' thin, eager face. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless written. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking some city in a dream. a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, me have 200 pounds?' relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, page at http://pglaf.org upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Why? What do you mean?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "I don't believe it." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, security.' crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "About a month then." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "'What then?' I asked. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, success. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND himself. or other trace. But how on earth--" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were records." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Have you her photograph?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Pope's Court. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 asked with his eyes open. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "10th. John Swain cleared. "What of the rat, then?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an the station." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "It's nothing of the kind." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be figure." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of help us in this matter." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled them?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then towards the blaze. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen when your master had gone out." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Well, it is a possible supposition." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Certainly." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Then I am your man." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he