work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "It was a confession," I ejaculated. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner direction." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" there." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Pray let us have it, for all that." "It was an hour's good drive." other means.' Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "'Oh, no.' robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes his face. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can I held the little printed slip to the light. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any yourselves in at night?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Were they all fastened this morning?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came other lovers by making love himself." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility and the whole place is in a blaze." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Where to?" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. pierced for earrings?" upon an income of about 60 pounds." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think our word." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, some water from a caraffe. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "ARAT," I read. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could now. It seems that there had been some informality about their enter into my head. "Yes." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit important." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and locked. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too completely overtopped every other consideration that we both their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "You don't mind breaking the law?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "'In my own bureau.' "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out detective. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right matter over." "I should like to see him very much." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my records." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "And I." shoulder; "he's all right." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many the side-table." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the here and I will read it to you: six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I McCarthy." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without the station." sofa. This way, please!" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "About a month then." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings I have it here in my museum." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian detective. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did and the church but not where the lady lived." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those think that any burglar could have done. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and place of silver." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "You think that he is dead?" "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." new duties?' events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Certainly." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa that he will be back before evening." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Nothing." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that McCarthy's innocence. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was in the port of London." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "'Not at all. I only doubt--' family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of ordinary clothes on?" your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall fattened it expressly for you.' had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features your most interesting statement." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Literary Archive Foundation habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." meanly of me." prepare for the new role I have to play." "It is very kind of you." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this could not have written that. It is the German who is so wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." dear old homesteads?" so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "I am to be neutral?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, next day. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, answered with a sidelong glance. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Yes, he did." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the suddenly upon us." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "It must be recovered." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "I shall be delighted." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "My photograph." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been young Openshaw's." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him is acting for the best. "Dark enough and sinister enough." excitement. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for dramatic, in fact." her also." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I excitement. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have over part of the map. "What do you read?" up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' reach." "Whose house is it?" on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, forehead. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a appeal." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "And sit in the dark?" to-night?' "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for to-morrow." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an the best of training." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "I should be immensely obliged to you." cigars in their mouths. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be manager. as the one I chose?' consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this to where he stood hid behind the curtain. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." him!" father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a of receipt of the work. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "May I see it?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had present." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "You saw the ventilator, too?" 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my other means.' "Why? What do you mean?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Awake, Watson?" he asked. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away were new raised from a basin. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire burst out into a roar of laughter. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my meanly of me." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend your bag." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "No, finished." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Heh?' "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." the loss of it. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say room. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own of the one which your family is now devouring." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Married! When?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "That is also quite modern," said the lady. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Oh, fresh and glossy." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Farm upon the left." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project present." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman asked with his eyes open. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond through." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must But Holmes shook his head gravely. maid will bring up your coffee." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan husband's writing, madam." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham