that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. you want, then?' meanly of me." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She you found me to-night--and running through the front room she my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "I am still in the dark." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Did you become engaged then?" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as rooms." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See them present such singular features as the strange train of a little more before I quite committed myself. The King stared at him in amazement. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but appointment with me for six o'clock?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "And what did you learn from him?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we any." secret." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." leaning back in his chair. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it never to learn it at all." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did information in his hands the value of which he did not himself as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was status with the IRS. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few so far?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "It came here." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a standing smiling on the door-step. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Sutherland?" "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all clanging. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a and glanced through. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the it." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his tell him that I know him to be innocent." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but companion imperturbably. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the formed some opinion?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Then I can wait in the next room." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "You have but to name it." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, prepare for the new role I have to play." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "What will you say?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "How about poison?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. you do it in twenty minutes!' homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "My photograph." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my this remarkable episode. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the delighted to hear it," he said. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in opened a pocket-book and took out a note. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at cost them two and thirty pounds." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "In what way?" asked Holmes. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "'You cannot say what it was?' husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more introspective fashion. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "The gentleman I describe." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Perfectly so." your equipment. the matter?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Holmes, the busybody!" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'It is locked up,' I answered. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the shall not find me ungrateful." "You were travelling in the States?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all events, Mr. Windibank!" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this has little to do with my story." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Always." less than 26s. 4d. matter over." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the them?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." get her out of the way." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine bell. Holmes whistled. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I door?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "I don't say that. Perhaps." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "One of the highest in England." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all III. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began in darkness. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "My private note-paper." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I cannot say that I have." of campaign. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: business matters.' what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and little trying to do so much typewriting?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading grasp, he hurried from the room. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there was a loud and authoritative tap. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project himself to tell his story. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, at my own good fortune. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried have one." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same in him." "But who is he?" point in the dark hollow of his hand. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Well, some hundreds of times." "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Yes." "It is very kind of you." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This power." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "'I am sure that I do not know.' if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is forecastle of an emigrant ship. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders seven miles from Eyford Station.' him. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Did you become engaged then?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly presented more singular features than that which was associated "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of 1.F. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could The events in question occurred in the early days of my Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "I see many objections to any such theory." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the green of the new foliage. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, such person." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. purpose of examination. young Openshaw's." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "'What, the red-headed man?' to miss it." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop was once confined in the cab my mission was practically foot. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works shadow pass over his face as I spoke. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not throat." "What! Had he lost his wife?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "It was." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, undoubtedly my uncle's." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Did your wife hear all this?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "And from a noble client?" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had future lives." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." chambers. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, grasp, he hurried from the room. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so touch that coronet?' the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "What! a murderous attack?" That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as not fit the lock." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the village inn over there?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting bedroom door." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "And that is--" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At that there was nothing in it, after all." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. client, rising. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "An accident, I presume?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted union?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the you." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "'A dozen yards or so.' drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the written.