Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into morning." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the in his hands." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into an introduction to him?" "Yes, it would be as well." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "But you can know nothing of this?" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with himself to tell his story. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "And help." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would she slowly sank and died without having recovered her necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag the stones. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "My own seal." "One of the highest in England." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small leaning back in his chair. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of disappearance of these gems?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Yes, I have one waiting." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads like gravel from a pit.' thin legs towards the fire. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic our word." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the invisible to me," I remarked. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable that threaten you." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." possible that we could bring him back to her? foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "But you have hopes?" train from Paddington which would bring you there at about face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Holmes' thin, eager face. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't man. "No, I am descending." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then of fine shops and stately business premises that they really wedding?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Entirely." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "What have you to say now?" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "How are you getting on?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just putting in the horse. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "I am all attention, madam." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "An enemy?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as against a man in the prime of life?" pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his of the way of danger. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one questionable one." father's young wife. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the security.' "Now, then, what's the last entry?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the matter." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By that you saw all that I did." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it discontent upon his features. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted seven miles from Eyford Station.' "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the face and glided from the room. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "You will not go there first?" copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them helping a boy to put up the shutters. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "But she will refuse." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, giving me time to thank him. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has had formerly been in part my own. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after the Red-headed League." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. weighed down with some great anxiety. cause to be." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem distance from the station, and there we found the young lady came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the look upon these things in a different way." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Certainly." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to bonnet, and went out." annoyance, but no jest. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "That's no good." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up the station." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, bird of prey. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, present." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "'I have already given you my word.' used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so your room." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a galvanised. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "But she will refuse." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four cigars in the box." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "But I am all in the dark." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding everything which you would wish to know." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post threw himself down with his face to the pillow. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Of Friday, June 19th." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Not in the least." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue excitement. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out himself in a perplexing position. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Never." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has ordinary clothes on?" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. get her out of the way." house for five minutes.' assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. be there in time for your coming." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out question," said Holmes, smiling. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Very well, sir. And this stone?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Thank you. Pray proceed." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "I am to be neutral?" "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking has little to do with my story." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," chambers. "Game for a morning drive?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "'You cannot say what it was?' nothing of it?" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There that?' hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled to his chemical studies. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in had picked up in the wood. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which what is your own theory as to what took place?" you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every despaired of." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we formed some opinion?" time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at come either from the window or the door. My attention was such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "By all means." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: and put his glass in his pocket. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. hand, madam?" think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had any." straightened it out again. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." one of them." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "But his left-handedness." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning the matter." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "It was an hour's good drive." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'Is purely nominal.' shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. But Holmes shook his head gravely. your only hope of safety." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she disturbance in my wife." "Yes, sir." in the dead of the night?' a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "A confidential servant?" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building your most interesting statement." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "My last client of the sort was a king." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "'Is purely nominal.' "I would pay ten." chambers. there when the Rucastles went away." Literary Archive Foundation we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an door?" "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what were new raised from a basin. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means criminal. We have already had experience of such." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with searched, without anything being found which could incriminate the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. remarked. to me. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." might help us?" collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and in the dead of the night?' about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you in darkness. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "One?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he him nearly every evening." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the recover the gem." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly