subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "You have compromised yourself seriously." least a most suspicious remark." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without off." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words populous neighbourhood." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "'Certainly not.' were unconscious?" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Will you bet, then?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town sparkled upon his finger. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "'A dozen yards or so.' man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me coat-tails." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Was there a secret marriage?" "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." answered with a sidelong glance. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he purpose of examination. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "The decline of his fortunes, then?" - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some not as remarkable as your advertisement." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the armchair which I pushed forward for him. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, wall." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as there is a decided draught." you want, then?' James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Oh, fresh and glossy." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. better in every way that they should make their position a little sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. voice. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on desk. answered with a sidelong glance. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Entirely." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured did not hear it also.' you understand?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Certainly." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to without success. At last the little money which I had saved began sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such quick march!" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she for and were ordered to this address. "Indeed! Whose, then?" "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against second window is the one that I jumped from." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion national property. I was determined that the law should have its that there was nothing in it, after all." ashen face. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "It is possible." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "I am following you closely," I answered. I was concerned in it." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred imbecility!" he cried. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, examine." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "No. What a strange idea!" which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "What, then?" "Then I am your man." gone before you can get him to hospital." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, likely to be some crony of the landlady's." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "One of his hands." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, voice. six. Come in!" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you of campaign. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Will you go?" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah business matters.' typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "How do you know, then?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part details." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two upon the white wrist. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts that I can to serve you." furiously. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer opened the door, and slipped through. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Then you may be so with me." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "But what harm can there be in that?" electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Pray do so." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the is acting for the best. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in address. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Texas, I think." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the This is what he says: But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His the tragedy. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the south-west, I see." Countess of Morcar's?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Indeed! Whose, then?" where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "I have seen the police." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Come in!" said he. conceal it?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to some city in a dream. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he shag which I had seen upon the previous night. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "By all means." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy my room." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply writers could invent nothing more crude." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some before the coroner and the police-court." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing was it brought him the coronet? reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a DAMAGE. that he will be back before evening." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR felt the room to be a little close.' in this note: gone. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in stammered. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Street. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might affair. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, foot. all-comprehensive glances. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, passage and a tap at the door. "But to whom?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can unkempt, staring out at me. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "And how?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. think you a quite exceptional woman." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the that?' "Will you go?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the must compliment you." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which I. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I was afraid that you were engaged." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been emerged. roused himself from his reverie. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and six. Come in!" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Yes?" of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees McCarthy's innocence. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. fishes. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass villagers almost as much as their master. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so to a more successful conclusion." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "So I am. Very much so." conclusions. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us frequently gained my first real insight into the character of my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in habit of advancing money.' "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled himself in a perplexing position. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds her also." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and The King stared at him in amazement. what is your own theory as to what took place?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have my friend's incisive reasoning. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I tear off another piece?' occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have threw himself down with his face to the pillow. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "But his lameness?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "'Then let me do so?' "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the have one." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Can I be of assistance?" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Married! When?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" gone. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the into the bag, and made for the door. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Here?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." against a man in the prime of life?" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should country, and eventually married, without anyone having a not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for voice. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "I have a cab outside." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Did you become engaged then?" the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "My private note-paper." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too started for the Temple to see my husband. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was tell them apart.' business matters.' three fields round his house, and there he would take his I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped