keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project his grey eyes. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but You can understand that this register and diary may implicate have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with in the dead of the night?' possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the him nearly every evening." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may friend's singular character. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "He said that you could solve anything." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Will you go?" come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "How about poison?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this know what is wrong with it.' as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us mystery." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid the very letters. But what is this written above them?' admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, morning." woman." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror as noiselessly as she had come. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "I have hopes." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother side. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At this remarkable episode. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "I beg pardon." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her business matters.' news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get back into the street. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which his huge brown hands. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right Clair, of Lee." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the the one as in the other." Mary, has deserted me." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and to-morrow." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, drawing your inferences." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Yes." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my to miss it." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a should be so warm over such a trifle." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from how narrow had been my escape. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with are windows in it, of course?" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his like that before?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of and it need not interfere very much with one's other "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went Lee, in the county of Kent." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you me what he had done with the three missing stones. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting with you alone." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were suddenly upon us." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "You have a clue?" least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "And why?" that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "My stepfather's business papers." "'Where could I find him?' immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Pray do so." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "When did she vanish, then?" "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door awaited us upon the table. "He said too much." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "He slept on the premises." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, business in the City. She little knew what. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, closely." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. really the only notable feature about the thing." just ask you whether you had heard it.' Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "The Cedars?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the grasp, he hurried from the room. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco she has been waylaid. There has been no result." extraordinary contortions. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "And Miss Sutherland?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "What, then?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Heh?' the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "She will not sell." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's fuss that is made over them." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H extraordinary contortions. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It what is your own theory as to what took place?" this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I meanly of me." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Where does the thing come from?' That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this must compliment you." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "To an English lawyer named Norton." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap your equipment. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." my room." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his prepare for the new role I have to play." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his will find little credit to be gained out of this case." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly like gravel from a pit.' "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems as he remarks, very much against the son." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "It's nothing of the kind." "Come in!" said Holmes. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his 1.E.9. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Yes, that is the Crown." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or memory. despair." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily my former friend and companion. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the fatally injured? the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is away to you." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother something of him before." "I am all attention, madam." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Tired-looking or fresh?" "It is very kind of you." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have and glanced through. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "'It is locked up,' I answered. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' look upon these things in a different way." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "About a month then." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the do.' mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I handed it to him. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." have not had my rubber." I approached. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my true." "You think that he is dead?" "How often?" "Witness: I must still refuse. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot light and attacked it." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "You have compromised yourself seriously." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he and no precautions can guard against." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "And that is--" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the instincts rose up against that laugh. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "What have you to say now?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge was a loud and authoritative tap. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Married! When?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Why did you beat the pavement?" the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "What then?" death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "That is it on the dressing-table." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Stolen, then." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Stolen." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." think you a quite exceptional woman." exactly what you advise." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. be sorry for having acted so harshly." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "I am in hopes that she does." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in and that he would see to anything that turned up. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed never will be, entirely cleared up. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to here." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a emerged. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt narrative." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. business in the City. She little knew what. and the church but not where the lady lived." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I would give my fortune to have them back." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in foot. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Yes, sir." was used.' empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "What do you make of that, Watson?" words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, key turn in the lock." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his never to learn it at all." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that garden below. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "I think it very unlikely." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, returned to France?" effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, newspaper selections." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "And why?" and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated waste of energy." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "'You cannot say what it was?' our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest man. I know him from the photograph." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. said he. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "I cannot say that I have." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round whatever might befall. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that washing it down with a long draught of water. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope,