were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. golden eyeglasses. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which of the one which your family is now devouring." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to looking up at the numbers of the houses." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Not in the least." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "'There is a drive, then?' Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "And I." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Yes, sir." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we was a lad." weary and pale-looking. better in every way that they should make their position a little habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." Arthur Conan Doyle and glanced through. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to be. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. was keenly on my guard against him. interest. They are important, you understand, without being Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very round with crates and massive boxes. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Perfectly so." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. in this way: red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are the coronet in his hands?" girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my cheerful." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "He said too much." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church business matters.' as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his politicians who had been sent down from the North. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "No, I think that I'll take it." asked with his eyes open. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of the devil!" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three of your young ladies.' father's place of business?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom the one as in the other." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "It looks newer than the other things?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my guilty one." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, to talk it over. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Your presence might be invaluable." that?' moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and there." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and to-morrow." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great train from Paddington which would bring you there at about cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's fat-encircled eyes. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Holmes." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "You heard nothing yourself last night?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the was it brought him the coronet? "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "I assure you that I am in your hands." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, morning." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "What steps will you take?" I asked. himself to tell his story. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low certainly do as you advise." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Then he might have called to you?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I keep the flames under. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "ARAT," I read. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "He disappeared so suddenly." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the which are rolled in Rotterdam." friends, not even his own brother. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other your room." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back the south-west, I see." bird I ate is country bred." "No good news?" acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his eavesdroppers?' the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and up this clue while it is still hot." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in gbnewby@pglaf.org "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no fear." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. 1.F. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I wall." the nursery. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and foot. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone begin with, and I had not got mine yet." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but morning." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the I nodded again. friends, not even his own brother. "I am following you closely," I answered. believe that I should never have any practice at all. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow back alive. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "No." posted to-day." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the what I may call a really hard day's work." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that speckled band?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "What then?" hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a which are rolled in Rotterdam." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "No." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'Quite sure, dad.' wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to to surprise her." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. with frightened eyes at his accuser. "I cannot say that I have." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Yes." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She served to weaken the effect. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was me. You must get home instantly and act." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, to affect your life." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into an introduction to him?" going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent For additional contact information: "You will not go there first?" not, dad?" she asked. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance some city in a dream. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its washing it down with a long draught of water. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few http://gutenberg.net/license). Where does the thing come from?' thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through politicians who had been sent down from the North. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "My dear Holmes!" me. You must get home instantly and act." were unconscious?" also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they of fine shops and stately business premises that they really him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Not social, then?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "But we can't all be." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "No, I had a dozen." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one attention." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his seem to you to be relevant or not." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the even of instruction." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. wall." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "And I to find an enemy." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a all?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Come in!" said he. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society side. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar fluttered off among the others. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. is worth.' "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I returning from some small jollification and was making his way for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "None." "It was an hour's good drive." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what cigars in their mouths. quickly through a disagreeable task. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Yes, it would be as well." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can hardly wander." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all the tragedy. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step once more to my work. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side to-morrow." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in held up the lantern and gazed about him. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and prisoner's face. "Nothing." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "'Very good.' "Your French gold?" suggested at once that there must be a communication between the great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were 1.E.9. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. developed." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. face and glided from the room. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is is so. I know all about McCarthy." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "I promise," said Holmes. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local opened the door, and slipped through. assist you in forming an opinion." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "An accident, I presume?" stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his done what I asked you, Jones?" "I was mad--insane." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Come in!" said he. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the you, my dear young lady?' with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard.