the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "A client, then?" fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "You horrify me!" "But the mystery?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Where is it, then?" round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the some place of shelter and let the county police know what has the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional obstinate." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of points to suicide?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit pity, because in other respects you would really have done very though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Deserted you?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "You were travelling in the States?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest one or two very singular points about this room. For example, conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' outsides of the windows. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "I will get her to show me." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had the stable lane now." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what asked. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "'I am sure if I had known--' events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this you." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' some mystery and the punishment of some crime." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, it." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the have one." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. his face which made him a very different person to the round, that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do ago." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "He said that you could solve anything." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the occurred." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a you came in." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "I cannot say that I have." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Henry Baker is a member." "The best possible." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he outsides of the windows. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have possible that we could bring him back to her? Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as will he say when he returns?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most followed. "Pray let us have it, for all that." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "Yes." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Yes, but only for you and me." "Yes, but only for you and me." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and the coronet at all injured?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "I warn you that they are very incomplete." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the a suggestive one." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into gone before you can get him to hospital." some city in a dream. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is shall not find me ungrateful." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "I am in hopes that she does." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Watson," he said cordially. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the entirely devoid of interest." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an noble correspondent could be. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, second window is the one that I jumped from." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Pray do so." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "But she will refuse." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has will be renamed. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it locked." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. late." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is to have been novel and of interest." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in father's young wife. I nodded to show that I had heard. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat begun to whiten, even as mine has." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter likely to be some crony of the landlady's." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid mysterious end." trifles." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us arrested. You then--" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here without a word or a look. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "My Mary? Impossible!" that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "An accident, I presume?" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the words came to my lips. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without other lovers by making love himself." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "I say it is." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand character. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "May I see it?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "I am in hopes that she does." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "From his hat?" my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Yes, only one." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a quite distinctive." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "He might." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "10th. John Swain cleared. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Where, indeed?" your room." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" lost his Christmas dinner." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' will he say when he returns?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature question you as to those details which seem to me to be most beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless again, where I was soon asleep. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the better grown goose." get her out of the way." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "I assure you that I am in your hands." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to grasp, he hurried from the room. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Do you receive much company?" he asked. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the not within a twentieth part of the market price." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to the Red-headed League." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Precisely." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Leadenhall Street--and--" despair." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and do.' him to be an active member of the medical profession." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "No." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the over part of the map. "What do you read?" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "I think that it is very probable." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." said Mr. Holder. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Yes, but only for you and me." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, was lame." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a charged with?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. deduce something from that?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. interest. They are important, you understand, without being Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a visitors." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." go back?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, are windows in it, of course?" entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "And how have you succeeded?" marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. crackling voice. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Pope's Court. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked fait accompli?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Very well, sir. And this stone?" and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a From what you have told me I think that it is possible that the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are the general public were present, then?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "I say it is." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." your only hope of safety." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but walking." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I will do it." This is what he says: did not hear it also.' it means?" "Her father is very rich?" through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a been deceived." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "None." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, do.' death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a woven round him. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been everything which you would wish to know." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep round and wave him away like that.' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "But how?" avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, deduce something from that?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental