meant it for the best. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Then I am your man." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "I came to find a friend." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four carriage. It was a chestnut." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "I do." nights." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "None." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the this as likely?" "Game for a morning drive?" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar considering the formidable letters which were received by himself nice household for a young lady." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, the coronet in his hand?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out papers on the sundial.'" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a vanished into the darkness. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "'Ample.' Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Yes, from Horsham." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Precisely so. But how--" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "'What then?' I asked. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried outside. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that bird of prey. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "It is no ordinary one." written. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, at my remark. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Absolutely none." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, cost them two and thirty pounds." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Of Friday, June 19th." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own Sholtos." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and had a long day." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with Mary, has deserted me." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy from the brougham. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell photograph a cabinet?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet shadow pass over his face as I spoke. during that time.' with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a derbies." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "I cannot imagine." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. bears upon the case?" country, and eventually married, without anyone having a silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife attention." said I. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the himself in a perplexing position. populous neighbourhood." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered acted in my house last night?" there was no need for father to know." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and are, I think, all that we need." "And on what day did he meet his death?" "How about poison?" "Do you know him?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "He disappeared so suddenly." head. So long, then!" "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "And why?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Ample." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must do you make of it all?" finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she For additional contact information: "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near union?" "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his I nodded to show that I had heard. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the entirely lost his self-respect." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should happened." once more to my work. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I think it very unlikely." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "'I shall certainly be there.' grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Then I do not see the point." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Quite so. She has her freedom." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "We were both in the photograph." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "VIOLET HUNTER." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your lumber-room." the bottom.' "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Street. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you will he say when he returns?" approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Ten will be early enough." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "But how will you look?" "I know where it is." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "I am to be neutral?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the as noiselessly as she had come. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "'Is purely nominal.' though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a true." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Not him." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "And the cigar-holder?" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, occupations.' the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an seem to you to be relevant or not." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after records." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "It is very clear." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "At the wedding breakfast." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at where we are going." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" any." amused." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Very. But will he see it?" St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." is," said he presently: "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call stepfather?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." main points of my analysis." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve said I. meant it for the best. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner important." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who neither fascinating nor artistic." nonsense.' wife's character?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Of Friday, June 19th." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Come in!" said he. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I one's self under obligations.' pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against one else, I think." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our than to us. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the have got?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "It surprised me." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" society." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set be there in time for your coming." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive the devil!" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and fluttered off among the others. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have room?" bachelor.' "They are typewritten," I remarked. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Street. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what said I. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I was afraid that you were engaged." of." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand strength in the others." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Was your sister dressed?" out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "And when will you call?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "And your father? Did you tell him?" "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change happened." the date of his supposed suicide." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both late." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love wanted for ourselves." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For help us in this matter." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "So I am. Very much so." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "You will not go there first?" may never be exposed to such a temptation." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "If so, much may have happened between." "And that is--" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "'Yes, sir.' that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank cost them two and thirty pounds." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Stolen, then." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I God! What an exposure! What can I do?" have not had my rubber." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "'Ample.' it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. wife's character?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "That is possible." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. o'clock is it?"