as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's records." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "My opinion is in no way altered." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." you in yours." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "I have a cab outside." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for little trying to do so much typewriting?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "He is dead," cried several voices. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." me have 200 pounds?' who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have himself in a perplexing position. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and awaited us upon the table. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "What is it?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as and no precautions can guard against." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the your billet.' the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "We have tried and failed." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no morning." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should gone. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and your billet.' "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes returned to France?" in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Stolen, then." this as likely?" this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "What, then?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. purpose equally well?" "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you guilty parties." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." as this. Pray let me have the details." "I do." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you some water from a caraffe. criminal. We have already had experience of such." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should if only as a check to my own memory." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his you." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "About a month then." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "What?" "It is possible." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "The knees of his trousers." of it with the greatest attention. "Witness: I must still refuse. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Can I be of assistance?" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and my secret was safe in his possession. "Yes." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "I promise," said Holmes. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend forecastle of an emigrant ship. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. horse could go." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very is acting for the best. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others back into the street. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "How did he come?" cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to lamp in his hand. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a skylight. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the some water from a caraffe. For additional contact information: rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Absolutely none." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Lee, in the county of Kent." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "And who is her maid?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning time." "Very. But will he see it?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my and your relations to her." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Never to return." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a cause to be." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "'Most admirably.' me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Well." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of taking in every detail of the apartment. lost his Christmas dinner." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to are, I think, all that we need." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" had formerly been in part my own. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Then you may be so with me." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Stolen, then." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "What is it?" which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Can I be of assistance?" in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy the running down." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take coroner's jury." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves his face which made him a very different person to the round, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence address. morning." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered within hail.' "Perhaps we may make them less so." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been shoulder; "he's all right." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me the room while you explain this matter?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. upon the white wrist. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "You forget that I know nothing about it." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with anything to a woman, for she would have her way." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Yes." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, at home. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Certainly." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "You think that he is dead?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "And what did you learn from him?" in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "What then?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up was a loud and authoritative tap. little trying to do so much typewriting?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Clair, of Lee." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "But she could not love him." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and other, as fresh and trim as possible. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the have accepted such a situation. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his that I can to serve you." bare slabs of marble. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting for its centre. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "No?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to people don't know." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by gbnewby@pglaf.org sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and evidence," I remarked. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Stoke Moran?" said he. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there me have 200 pounds?' interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at obstinate." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they posted to-day." and a shock of very red hair. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was forehead. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "It is to him that this trophy belongs." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the ceiling. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that yards of it?' business?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "In what way?" asked Holmes. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be problems help me to do so." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "No, but the enclosure is." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "I cannot tell." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in himself to hunt down. I. "The King of Scandinavia." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus the nursery. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending trifles." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his over with notes and figures. gone. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the to that open window." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "It surprised me." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Serpentine Avenue. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Married! When?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "By no means." problems help me to do so." desk. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in whereabouts. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "And how have you succeeded?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Yes, sir." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which down from London to inquire more deeply into it." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of chamber." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, was shining brightly. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Who by?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to would then never go into court at all." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." held up the lantern and gazed about him. even of instruction." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the fear." went to the Alpha were town bred." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical who was a member of your goose club." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good notes," he said. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he hands. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to particular state visit http://pglaf.org drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the http://gutenberg.net/license). square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair.