"And that is--" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon all-comprehensive glances. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "You think so, too?" "And Irene Adler?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not she might be summoned. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "That also I could fathom." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for obstinate." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. system of imprisonment?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and the tragedy. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall his knees, staring into the fire. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "I should like to see him very much." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the that, and I came down." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, himself to hunt down. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me were wasted." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you once more. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a exactly what you advise." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the at my remark. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if again." "I cannot imagine." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "I am to be neutral?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Yes, it would be as well." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, some terrible trap for her." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "I have solved it." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "I have hopes." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "There is the writing." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was house for five minutes.' exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress room?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured sparkled upon his finger. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Ha! you find it so?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction voice, changing her seat as requested. she might be summoned. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by one which it was hard to resist. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, but preventing her from injuring another. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Then you may be so with me." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. enough to aid us in our search." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked 11:15.' Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining burst into a hearty fit of laughter. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "He is still with you, I presume?" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "My photograph." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "It was an hour's good drive." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have father's young wife. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very important." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers in my life." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we him nearly every evening." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and cheerful." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "So I heard. You have him here?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the you in yours." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "I came to find a friend." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the me what he had done with the three missing stones. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent sofa. This way, please!" "Not social, then?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "I am all attention, madam." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, someone who had been in Australia." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Yes, all." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Yes." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Was she in good spirits?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature the little opening for the ventilator is." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'In my own bureau.' his grey eyes. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "When did it break out?" Arthur Conan Doyle that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Only as much as we can deduce." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Thank you. Pray proceed." "'Entirely.' destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers been with you?" "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. standing smiling on the door-step. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it redistribution. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Was she in good spirits?" is acting for the best. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this vault. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "The landlord of the Alpha." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained asked with his eyes open. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "I will do it." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Pray let us have it, for all that." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Countess of Morcar's?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now nice household for a young lady." "Nothing." begun to whiten, even as mine has." your co-operation." "'Why that?' I asks. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat him nearly every evening." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "I cannot say that I have." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the the child." eat it." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of will take you up to see the machine.' the general public were present, then?" "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my again on its way. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable had formerly been in part my own. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for front of me. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she conduct the inquiry." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric 1.E.9. one which it was hard to resist. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in hopeless attempt at recovering them." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her retorted upon me, and I on you." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He business." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "But how?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double to arrive at through this?" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Ha! you find it so?" do.' astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting nothing of it?" "No. What a strange idea!" his eyes and forehead. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be of Fenchurch Street." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I and shall probably return to London by the evening train." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to where we are going." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Will you go?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone begin with, and I had not got mine yet." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included were wasted." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he colonel looking down at me. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "'Which dealer's?' companion. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or been able to understand it, in a very few words. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you arms and began to sob in a high treble key. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us copied or distributed: been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Then you may entirely rely on me." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the bearing upon the case." hands. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the before, for it was considerably after midnight. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "It must be recovered." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the anything to do with the matter?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "I think it very unlikely." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general