are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "It is possible." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "But I am all in the dark." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful For additional contact information: other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange society." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the said I. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, wedding?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "What then?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, cigars in their mouths. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "A greater distance to travel." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each point our research must commence, and we will begin it by is so. I know all about McCarthy." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by friend's singular character. indeed which he could not unravel. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "My opinion is in no way altered." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us the house with me." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be woman." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "'Never.' means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of amused." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front long narrative. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "By train from Waterloo." some water from a caraffe. the date of his supposed suicide." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "It's nothing of the kind." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a away in different directions, and I went off to make my own roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "I will not look." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that words came to my lips. "Of what?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as relation between them, and what the object of his repeated unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate where we are going." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall this poor creature." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he him and tried to hold him back. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. chance." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have people in all walks of life. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in national property. I was determined that the law should have its Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "And you can do nothing until then?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I garden below. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "But we can't all be." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If because she had spent so short a time in this country that she ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Mary, has deserted me." the side-table." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very brain must have something in it." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It conceal it?" "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. yourselves in at night?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. must compliment you." tell me that you intended to go into harness." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." papers." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt you." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must me have 200 pounds?' "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "None." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a have been better. It is all right." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Breckinridge is his name." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "You did not overhear what they said?" glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." lips." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat and looked back. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said such person." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or were new raised from a basin. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." think that he is innocent?" "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from legal crime." been deceived." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Yes, he did." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I a good hundred miles off by now." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "What! a murderous attack?" door?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew shadow pass over his face as I spoke. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and that he will be back before evening." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was train.' the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be chair. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Not particularly." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a showing my impatience. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." possible that we could bring him back to her? the armchair which I pushed forward for him. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the how narrow had been my escape. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do beyond words. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not meant." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the noting anything else of interest. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing looking up at the numbers of the houses." good-night and bustled off upon her way. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "'You cannot say what it was?' politicians who had been sent down from the North. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my too. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been breakfast." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and astonishment. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" again, where I was soon asleep. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but standing smiling on the door-step. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "A client, then?" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "And your father? Did you tell him?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing woven round him. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Why? What do you mean?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, wedding?" "'Which dealer's?' License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is do you make of it all?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The go from here to the Strand." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock to some other building. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all made him keep the appointment." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, becomes even more simple." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't examination of the premises, but without finding anything which some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be fattened it expressly for you.' status with the IRS. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." "And how did he make his money?" shall not find me ungrateful." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "You think that he is dead?" disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Has he come with you to-night?" "Witness: I must still refuse. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Nothing." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "It certainly sounds feasible." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as you in your example." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers promised to bring home. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT you?' What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "But you would not advise me to refuse?" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them astonishment. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Henry Baker is a member." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in the King without delay." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." bled considerably." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself in his hands." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "No, I think that I'll take it." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the trying to your nerves." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she me. You must get home instantly and act." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary photograph?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable letters?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "'Certainly,' I answered. goes." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I Where does the thing come from?' He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since despaired of." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: as the one I chose?' Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned good for you to do.' "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "She walked into the breakfast-room." roused himself from his reverie. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a giving me time to thank him. over here." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the some city in a dream. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, now. It seems that there had been some informality about their public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a the running down." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The your own bird, so if you wish--" dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said suddenly upon us." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had hurried away. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and