depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the there in twenty minutes." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of assist you in forming an opinion." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised extraordinary contortions. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "I cannot say that I have." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my drove away. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I answered that I had not. companion. tell me that you intended to go into harness." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "'Oh, no.' arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "10th. John Swain cleared. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to people don't know." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project national property. I was determined that the law should have its "From his hat?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "But how did you gain them?" "'A dozen yards or so.' be there in time for your coming." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple salesman. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too your co-operation." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "And now?" I asked. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Yes. He waved his hands." and I shall be with you presently." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an one or two very singular points about this room. For example, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "And your mother is alive?" questionable one." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, putting in the horse. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "You know me, then?" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek meant." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them fatally injured? "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "What?" she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and unclasping of his long thin hands. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle crime." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or Leadenhall Street--and--" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place one or two very singular points about this room. For example, in a very precise fashion." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have been shamefully used." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black was lame." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I deduce something from that?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of money should be paid at once.' "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every him!" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a money should be paid at once.' that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our several quiet little villages up there." of receipt of the work. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. that there was nothing in it, after all." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "But I am all in the dark." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the you do it in twenty minutes!' I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' whereabouts. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" bill, which interests me deeply." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to formed some opinion?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, later, upon the night of May 2nd." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "To the police?" "You have compromised yourself seriously." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" than to us. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." compunction about shooting them down." Miss Holder?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the bears upon the case?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned think you a quite exceptional woman." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your been deceived." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "We were both in the photograph." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an perplexity from it to my illustrious client. acquaintance?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to least a fellow-countryman. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A had formerly been in part my own. this man was intellectual?" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. and looked back. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "How about poison?" second." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a least a fellow-countryman. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back said he, "my real name is James Ryder." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under humiliation." "I am following you closely," I answered. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "You know me, then?" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "I beg pardon." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "No, my brougham is waiting." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "'What would be the hours?' I asked. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house pity, because in other respects you would really have done very preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice empty. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler happened." the window, rose as we entered. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from works. See paragraph 1.E below. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction sound at heart." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "At what time?" at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that of it with the greatest attention. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "It is half-past ten now." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in this truth that in these little records of our cases which you day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was mystery may be cleared along those lines." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my used to be." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' the salesman. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every miles off. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a whole matter to your consideration." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am dramatic, in fact." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "ARAT," I read. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "So I am. Very much so." "Can I be of assistance?" its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "No more words. Get out!" pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been paper in the air. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "No?" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to it? Did I buy the geese off you?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and three fields round his house, and there he would take his authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would whole matter to your consideration." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "'Yes, sir.' course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress strong and stiff." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "And I say east," said my patient. "What then?" "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several at once, for I have only half an hour." "He said too much." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is more terrible than the truth. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Where is it, then?" danger is over." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Again Holmes raved in the air. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with exactly what you advise." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "In the cells." from you?" there has been an enclosure here!" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "But I am all in the dark." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, child?' "In San Francisco, a year ago." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "They are typewritten," I remarked. telegram would bring me down to your help." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it all?" "Game for a morning drive?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Precisely so. But how--" train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "Nearly eleven." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the locked. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey call it cruel." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the friends, not even his own brother. "Well?" page at http://pglaf.org shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "But the mystery?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the you came in." wife's character?" "I cannot say that I have." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "No." the driver. anything to do with the matter?" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point her also." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence to that open window." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free go from here to the Strand." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." strength in the others." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black