has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly thought that she would have been so carried away." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman that, and I came down." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed had died away into the silence from which it rose. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable breakfast?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if think, you have already met." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Then I am your man." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Absolutely?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly one which it was hard to resist. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me occurred." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has have established a very serious case against the son of the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It questionable one." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined together. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "But to whom?" "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "What have you to say now?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of that he has suffered." "Witness: It was. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Then I can wait in the next room." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up and wait." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "You forget that I know nothing about it." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." interests were the same as his." "Was the window open?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the him to be an active member of the medical profession." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or hour." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which existence." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "You forget that I know nothing about it." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were both be extremely obliged.' slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner strode off upon his way. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his amused." highly," said Holmes. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it noble correspondent could be. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "What can you not understand?" "I say it is." answer." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I will get her to show me." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right you." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. there." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. later, upon the night of May 2nd." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My behind me. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it people don't know." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel within hail.' "May I see it?" the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "She showed me, as I told you she would." highroad, where all traces were lost. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the strong and stiff." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted the matter?" that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy the bottom.' the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just dead, shall be safe with us." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "You did not overhear what they said?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a generous with you in money matters.' all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "It is possible." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an drawing your inferences." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, were unconscious?" bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are you." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "In which, sir?" my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no a room. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and his forehead." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists ready to-morrow?' "I was sure that I might rely on you." it with his own hands." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "My opinion is in no way altered." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed to arrive at through this?" developed." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "The gentleman I describe." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Miss Holder?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be lectures into a series of tales." what do you think they found in the pockets?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which right! Sit down and let us talk it over." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." copied or distributed: possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross throat." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'Where to?' Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased second window is the one that I jumped from." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are The telegram which we eventually received came late one night headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," name is different." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Was the window open?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, than to us. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are yet." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the walking." "Did he not advertise?" upon an income of about 60 pounds." you in yours." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back of this gang." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. upon a handsome competence. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it 'I should be able to look after that for you.' putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in upon a handsome competence. "At the wedding breakfast." other, as fresh and trim as possible. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend is acting for the best. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." what is your own theory as to what took place?" What do you deduce from it?" from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like Chief Executive and Director Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which Street. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "What then?" "'How far from the body?' his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "No bad?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it corner of the building. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback secret." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "In the cells." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "What can it mean?" I gasped. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban read it out to me." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, go back?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "In the cells." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed question. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Do you go out much in society?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a From what you have told me I think that it is possible that the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "I am about to be married." "But of what society?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' in your London, you will know that the office of the company is the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as them, and came down just as you departed. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "You will not go there first?" "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored that there was nothing in it, after all." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what place no limit on the sum I may draw." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "What, then, did Peterson do?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "It was an hour's good drive." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to tightly behind him. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever maiden herself was most instructive." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me any more." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual furiously. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. returning from some small jollification and was making his way of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Was the window open?" money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very and the church but not where the lady lived." "It missed him, then?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Witness: I must still refuse. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "It is very kind of you." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered public press." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any in this way: revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you that you saw all that I did." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, the bottom.' glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this trifles." time." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I experiences." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Of Friday, June 19th." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Then I can wait in the next room." "That was it, sir." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's do." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Perhaps we may make them less so." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Was your sister dressed?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "'Yes, sir.' transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these bare slabs of marble. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too