He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. and the church but not where the lady lived." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any charge against him will break down." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is had no one to advise her at such a crisis." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Edgeware Road. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry money should be paid at once.' right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am touch that coronet?' travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking trying to your nerves." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might his eyes and forehead. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, asked. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a father's young wife. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one Again Holmes raved in the air. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike I was concerned in it." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "One of his hands." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and I held the little printed slip to the light. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Henry Baker is a member." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "'Quite sure, dad.' against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "I promise," said Holmes. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I copied or distributed: "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Ah!" surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' within hail.' "From his hat?" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Yes, only one." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and standing smiling on the door-step. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Where did he live, then?" "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "On your arm?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what he. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up some terrible trap for her." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "A confidential servant?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were were wasted." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "You don't mind breaking the law?" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want with you?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a in his hands." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "In answer to an advertisement." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable experiences." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from shoulder. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the details should find their way into the papers. Inspector to tell." in this way: wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and appeal." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he enter Dr. Roylott's room." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing the coronet in his hand?" Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in said I. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of this man was intellectual?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. sake, don't!" Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from what these perils are?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the hopeless attempt at recovering them." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "This concluded the examination of the witness." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice down. had a long day." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "Absolutely?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. from the brougham. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, James Windibank. Voilà tout!" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself comes from the middle window." "We have tried and failed." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' noting anything else of interest. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, arrangements." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of situation." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a sufficient punishment." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing Eyford at 11:15.' be.' "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "What do you mean?" whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "And is that all?" brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a congenial hunt. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. ways of our fellow-men." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission papers on the sundial.'" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." he bowed and left the room without another word. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing records." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical shaken than I had ever seen him. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. away into the river." Clair, of Lee." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, never to learn it at all." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "You were travelling in the States?" knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "And how have you succeeded?" The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little to have that photograph." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. shall not find me ungrateful." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "No. What a strange idea!" better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "And who is her maid?" "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by disappearance of the bride.'" which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "How often?" "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some the inquest, and which are worth considering." nonsense.' down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, ventilator." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. gone. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "It goes to the housekeeper's room." he bowed and left the room without another word. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "It is possible." "And the murderer?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the Holmes' face clouded over. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into case before our client came into the room." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "No, finished." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Nothing." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "I don't say that. Perhaps." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and to tell." quickly through a disagreeable task. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. your most interesting statement." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the himself to hunt down. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "It is possible." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. villagers almost as much as their master. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Does that suggest anything?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "'I have heard so.' "And you thought he was pulled back?" "The landlord of the Alpha." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, wedding?" in the port of London." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out means taking possession of that which another person has a prior by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the The summons was a brief and urgent one. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Very much so." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that forehead. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If outside. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the that?' unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily in this way: to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek arrested. You then--" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's formed some opinion?" I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "He is dead," cried several voices. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! suggested at once that there must be a communication between the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous your most interesting statement." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "We must have a cab." experiences." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters the address that was given us in the advertisement. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. followed. individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to you in yours." strong and stiff." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking desk. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of with you?" something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "And how did he make his money?"