it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish feature." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it I leave." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster who was a member of your goose club." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so it." himself in a perplexing position. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand been." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with my friend's incisive reasoning. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is standing smiling on the door-step. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you and all of them with the keenest interest. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to clang of the bell. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful place, I think that there is good ground to think that the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "But she will refuse." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my was a perfect sample of the class. "I am armed." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." bell. Holmes whistled. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the has little to do with my story." been deceived." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' Count Von Kramm." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to tear off another piece?' up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Why serious?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "That is easily got." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to mysterious end." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were together. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else standing smiling on the door-step. indeed happy." "No, but the enclosure is." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's that you wished to speak to me?' said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like distinguish the words: bell. Holmes whistled. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when depend upon your compliance." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "They are typewritten," I remarked. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no criminal. We have already had experience of such." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is character. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Then I do not see the point." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "How did he come?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I developed." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing assist you in forming an opinion." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll should be so warm over such a trifle." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Yes." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she I have it here in my museum." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, you understand?" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'I shall certainly be there.' Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who The telegram which we eventually received came late one night loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began the tragedy. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our overpowering excitement and concern. neither fascinating nor artistic." "But she will refuse." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn imbecility!" he cried. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is new duties?' persecution?" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a nothing of it?" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "But you would not advise me to refuse?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no nonsense.' searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "How on earth--" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "What do you mean?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Precisely." death." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Yes?" "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" you?" the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Have you good authority for what you say?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I But Holmes shook his head gravely. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Yes, I have one waiting." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "In the cells." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "What will you say?" I held the little printed slip to the light. already been minutely examined." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we at once, for I have only half an hour." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. which we had just quitted. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster most interesting one." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking for and were ordered to this address. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "So I am. Very much so." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and I shall communicate with you." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Your sister is dead, then?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "It is to him that this trophy belongs." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can silent! Oh, he will be silent!' Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." was lame." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Won't it ring?" "I guessed as much." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. as he remarks, very much against the son." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly depend upon my doing so.' is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I was afraid that you were engaged." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction geese which you supplied to the Alpha." outbreak?" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of I shall continue with my miserable story. and effective." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." so.' eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. Doctor, of the paper and the date." ceremony." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with go--none." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Clair, of Lee." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she felt the room to be a little close.' silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the upon an income of about 60 pounds." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from had a long day." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set ill-usage at the hands of fortune. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive do you make of it all?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I showing my impatience. "Your French gold?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average suggested at once that there must be a communication between the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, vault. "'Yes, sir.' signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "I have solved it." this poor creature." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Munro.' were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do back alive. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." anything to do with the matter?" nonsense.' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "I fear not." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I chance." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "And what did you see?" black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The despaired of." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out the general public were present, then?" drove away. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Yes." habit of advancing money.' together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the dramatic, in fact." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was advice." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I chance at all." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "What then?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which and put his glass in his pocket. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute begin with, and I had not got mine yet." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Seven!" I answered. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into character. "What! a murderous attack?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "No. What a strange idea!" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." gbnewby@pglaf.org them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "A call for help, you thought?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Is he quiet?" orange pips. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Where to?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the ashen face. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of towards the blaze. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed showing my impatience. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this noble correspondent could be. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Now, then, what's the last entry?"