guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "I beg pardon." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were think that any burglar could have done. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the stones. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. appeal." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and horse could go." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said possible that we could bring him back to her? see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Eh? What was that?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two and looked back. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so over part of the map. "What do you read?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "What can it mean?" I gasped. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "And now?" He raised his hand. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. forebodings. tapping his fingers upon the table. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any not personally threatened." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Was your sister dressed?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most and wait." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer thought that she would have been so carried away." lost nothing by them." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "The rest you will leave in our hands." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that shoulder; "he's all right." fait accompli?" shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few was once confined in the cab my mission was practically and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Come in!" said Holmes. read it out to me." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "This concluded the examination of the witness." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them interests were the same as his." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be carpenter." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature investigation." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" his knees, staring into the fire. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "We were both in the photograph." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few tightly behind him. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. get her out of the way." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "I will not look." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "When did it break out?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs kind enough to tell me what I should do." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for meant." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Yes, it would be as well." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you Lee, in the county of Kent." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot was a perfect sample of the class. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Upon what point?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. you understand?" located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, such person." some city in a dream. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Entirely." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "What is it?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "It is possible." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "I cannot tell." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Come in!" said Holmes. "What of the rat, then?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "'Certainly,' I answered. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do your own bird, so if you wish--" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "The King of Scandinavia." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "I cannot imagine." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who green of the new foliage. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never mysterious end." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists trifles." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" answered with a sidelong glance. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the highly," said Holmes. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as cigars in their mouths. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** so far?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few sake, don't!" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary and the church but not where the lady lived." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "No bad?" son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was with you?" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, country, and eventually married, without anyone having a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "The knees of his trousers." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "I say that I have solved it." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE leave you to your papers for a little." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal said Mr. Holder. in his power. depend upon your compliance." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at returned to France?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst observed. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, again." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't http://gutenberg.net/license). may never be exposed to such a temptation." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no your sleep?' little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to unprecedented a position." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our she might be summoned. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some occupations.' to where he stood hid behind the curtain. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "'About the same.' "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "In what way?" asked Holmes. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "'And what are they worth?' I asked. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "By all means." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "And how did you verify them?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we points to suicide?" cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, guilty parties." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been father's place of business?" light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a me. You must get home instantly and act." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as as yours." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his such person." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is noble correspondent could be. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to to change my dress. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A that you can jump it.' quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade side. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you carried out of court." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and it." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. question," said Holmes, smiling. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. married her." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND nothing of it?" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no events, Mr. Windibank!" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention to where he stood hid behind the curtain. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Proceed, then." forbidden door. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted and the church but not where the lady lived." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed