and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "And Miss Sutherland?" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a even so self-evident a thing as that." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "And how have you succeeded?" and the whole place is in a blaze." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "When did she vanish, then?" my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the enter into my head. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across http://gutenberg.net/license). quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me stood on the top of it. not as remarkable as your advertisement." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "VIOLET HUNTER." it were putty." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary written, and locked the door of the office after me. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, hard-headed British jury." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" know what is wrong with it.' with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, help us in this matter." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Yes, it would be as well." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "The landlord of the Alpha." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' entirely devoid of interest." directly by questioning you." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the salesman. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "I came to find a friend." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the really the only notable feature about the thing." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. was shining brightly. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My spare." was feeling which was the fattest.' "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." which are rolled in Rotterdam." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "There are none." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled without success. At last the little money which I had saved began without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Yes." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled For additional contact information: the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet wife's character?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they him, that man would not have given me such complete information "We must sit without light. He would see it through the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "'Never.' the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "We have tried and failed." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my meant." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if mystery may be cleared along those lines." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Certainly." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Breckinridge is his name." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Yes." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading of receipt of the work. and wait." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was place of silver." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes gone. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her Have you good authority for what you say?" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of begin with, and I had not got mine yet." records." questioning and rather startled gaze. spare." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Have you it here?" during the last few years, and there are many noble families to International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is a little more before I quite committed myself. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow sofa. This way, please!" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "It goes to the housekeeper's room." floor. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are London for the present?" "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'As governess?' which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through your sleep?' a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Literary Archive Foundation "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which conceal it?" I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "Entirely." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss closing the door. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were been shamefully used." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Did you become engaged then?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the ready to-morrow?' upon the shelf for the interim." rose-bushes. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of who was a member of your goose club." to some other building. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a fled together." and looked back. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "'Most admirably.' product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. grasp, he hurried from the room. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "'I shall certainly be there.' that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he mysterious end." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think vanished into the darkness. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes like gravel from a pit.' prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that strong reason behind." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the despair." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "How did you trace it, then?" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which business matters.' but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird upon the white wrist. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "On the contrary, this is the right side." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of look upon these things in a different way." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Always." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "A greater distance to travel." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the crowd. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "'In my own bureau.' mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "She showed me, as I told you she would." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "I have come for advice." "We were both in the photograph." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the cheerful." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss power." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a existence." six. Come in!" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Yes, all." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is dates and names. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." any." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this disappearance of the bride.'" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so gone. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, into the bag, and made for the door. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the fait accompli?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum ready to-morrow?' "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head becomes even more simple." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only events, Mr. Windibank!" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great outside. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary guilty parties." province." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "And I to find an enemy." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to bird of prey. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Entirely." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you You want to know what became of those geese?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. my secret was safe in his possession. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I was not a bird to be seen there. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I am about to be married." "And how did you verify them?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence have got?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "And your mother is alive?" headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "I warn you that they are very incomplete." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "No, finished." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be useful material for showing traces. The double line a little a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured trying to your nerves." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "What then?" that I can to serve you." himself to tell his story. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when laugh and put his lips to my ear. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon your room." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of because she had spent so short a time in this country that she problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and said he, "my real name is James Ryder." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in to some other building. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Nothing?" police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "My dear Holmes!" Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very you." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read through." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "Well, but China?" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Certainly." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the as this. Pray let me have the details." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will of a light. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper his knees, staring into the fire. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Does that suggest anything?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, page at http://pglaf.org "But you can know nothing of this?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I