the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "No." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "And Miss Sutherland?" been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. bill, which interests me deeply." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain light and attacked it." both be extremely obliged.' the child." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the to surprise her." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "By no means." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "My dear Holmes!" "I cannot tell." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "I beg pardon." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea the coronet in his hand?" providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "It is no ordinary one." "It was." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of pictures, libraries, or plate. new acquaintance to Baker Street. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and digesting their breakfasts at home." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Has he come with you to-night?" "'In my own bureau.' she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be you?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very colour had been driven from his face. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. bearing upon the case." remarked. him to go away.' fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Edgeware Road. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more lids now and glanced across at his visitor. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'There is a drive, then?' exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Is he quiet?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "None." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." advice." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, not as remarkable as your advertisement." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The and the whole place is in a blaze." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. asked with his eyes open. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "I am following you closely," I answered. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, which was all perfectly true. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my with her." Holmes." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Not in the least." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I lumber-room." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "That was it, sir." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I morning." Holmes' room. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and over part of the map. "What do you read?" you understand?" "'I have heard so.' from you?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "I don't believe it." "You forget that I know nothing about it." not come at once?" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Married! When?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke the date of his supposed suicide." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it because she had spent so short a time in this country that she his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a just ask you whether you had heard it.' collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little Leave Paddington by the 11:15." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the not within a twentieth part of the market price." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Yes, it was twisted." "No more words. Get out!" photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I will, Miss Turner." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding said Mr. Holder. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray not, dad?" she asked. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "'You doubt its value?' he asked. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "I see many objections to any such theory." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Perhaps we may make them less so." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "I will not look." "What can it mean?" I gasped. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My it means?" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the go back?" Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "'Why that?' I asks. call for it in person on Monday morning.' not personally threatened." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "'I have heard so.' cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "He disappeared so suddenly." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the night.' quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with use an arc-and-compass breastpin." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" that you wished to speak to me?' hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Mary, has deserted me." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "And Miss Sutherland?" go--none." without a word or a look. digesting their breakfasts at home." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see was shining brightly. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "I am in hopes that she does." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and said Mr. Holder. chair. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. character. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "But how could you guess what the motive was?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "I see many objections to any such theory." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room it were putty." "And on what day did he meet his death?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "I do." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would me. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid morning." "In the cells." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the more solid." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Certainly, madam." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell that I am arrested." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being where we are going." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to matter over." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. investigation." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is gives a meaning to it." three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that chance at all." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the devil!" more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "How did you deduce the select?" "I shall most certainly do so." towards the blaze. must compliment you." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it fattened it expressly for you.' them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever before the coroner and the police-court." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "So I heard. You have him here?" 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Have you good authority for what you say?" and effective." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his very old mansion. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for name is different." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "I have hopes." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few extraordinary contortions. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest soul! here is her carriage at the door." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is is a common subject for conversation. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'You cannot say what it was?' strange features which were associated with the two crimes which him, that man would not have given me such complete information suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "That is it on the dressing-table." villagers almost as much as their master. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in was the fact that his father should, according to his account, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I night.' said he. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried disappearance of the bride.'" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." dates and names. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see with frightened eyes at his accuser. "My own seal." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up heavily into it. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of the address that was given us in the advertisement. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are you understand?" "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found there when the Rucastles went away." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB