there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this this Miss Turner." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of weighed down with some great anxiety. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "What?" to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a remarked. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Holmes' room. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND whatever might befall. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her salesman. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too whereabouts. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and said he, "my real name is James Ryder." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge morning." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "You think that he is dead?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, becomes even more simple." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left is," said he presently: "Entirely." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat manager. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "How did you deduce the select?" "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen crime. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." she to prove their authenticity?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was point our research must commence, and we will begin it by benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'Never.' with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view do.' "And it is--" were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Come in!" said he. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, is a common subject for conversation. seem to you to be relevant or not." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "It is possible." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "And for present expenses?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend was shining brightly. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into and capable of preserving a secret.' are, I think, all that we need." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in sound at heart." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "It is solved." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "I was certainly surprised to find you there." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from bearing upon the case." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Stolen, then." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child indeed happy." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in girl said." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face less than 26s. 4d. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. tension within him. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "No." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and will be renamed. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "What shall I do?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "I have a cab outside." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "No, I think that I'll take it." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are will take you up to see the machine.' course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' shaken than I had ever seen him. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided very old mansion. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by easy-going way." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was lost his Christmas dinner." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Street. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, floor. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of entirely devoid of interest." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one keep the flames under. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong brandy and water within his reach. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. sufficient punishment." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought matter." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that acted in my house last night?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance words came to my lips. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on true." "Dark enough and sinister enough." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled will he say when he returns?" promised to bring home. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a is worth.' "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "'Yes, I promise.' "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave take the flies, but not before." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "But how?" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "My own seal." burst out into a roar of laughter. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from waste of energy." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about to miss it." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your generous with you in money matters.' the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Where does the thing come from?' key turn in the lock." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young compunction about shooting them down." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about impression behind it as though a window had gently closed information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Could he throw no light?" "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of putting in the horse. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "What are they?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be in darkness. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Yes." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "But how?" "Certainly, madam." horse could go." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next society." "'Certainly,' I answered. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless at once, for I have only half an hour." is four-and-twenty." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good all that?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry gone. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "No." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "The King of Scandinavia." existence." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening him, that man would not have given me such complete information appointment with me for six o'clock?" The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." formed some opinion?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens it with his own hands." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in My friend smiled. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an in the port of London." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the night.' said he. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "The knees of his trousers." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be woman." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "It is his hat." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Here?" acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "What can it mean?" I gasped. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "'I have already given you my word.' affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know all-comprehensive glances. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already allusion to a rat. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William it." people in all walks of life. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "To ruin me." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything Count Von Kramm." "That's no good." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down furiously. from you?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic you." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "I have come for advice." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "My dear Holmes!" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl flock.' young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's conclusions. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "'Yes.' bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord criminal. We have already had experience of such." village inn over there?" right! Sit down and let us talk it over." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Edgeware Road. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Very murderous indeed." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my astonishment. to miss it." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the article?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass to some other building. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster the window, rose as we entered. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' weighed down with some great anxiety. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after to tackle the facts." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him open." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Murdered?" its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "But she will refuse." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door