wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner never will be, entirely cleared up. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may appeared upon the scene." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in stammered. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a himself in a perplexing position. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "It looks newer than the other things?" through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his exactly what you advise." night.' said he. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Why? What do you mean?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "None." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their retorted upon me, and I on you." are, and they are waiting for us." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "9th. McCauley cleared. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened dates and names. pierced for earrings?" chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Yes, sir." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, crime." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "He might." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, purpose equally well?" light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very trying to your nerves." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Proceed, then." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Game for a morning drive?" "What do you mean?" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which thin legs towards the fire. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can acquaintance?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "'It is locked up,' I answered. unkempt, staring out at me. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" coroner's jury." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked sentimental considerations in the background which would induce which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, to a light-house. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same learned something! Where are the gems?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "But I have heard all that you have heard." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of house for five minutes.' had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to outsides of the windows. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "And Miss Sutherland?" to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." main points of my analysis." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six his huge brown hands. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of opened the door, and slipped through. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Of what?" however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder awkward doing business with an alias." "The King of Scandinavia." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he examine." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His could gather together that I was able to avert another public Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled fat-encircled eyes. "When did she vanish, then?" would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was politicians who had been sent down from the North. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in taking in every detail of the apartment. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the dear old homesteads?" father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Was your sister dressed?" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and always that they were such commands as a lady might with wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell noble correspondent could be. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "'Yes, it was gone.' listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious his cane at the bell-pull. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "It is half-past ten now." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece fashion which was peculiar to him. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the business in the City. She little knew what. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Perfectly so." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into your equipment. "By no means." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece to that open window." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure official police." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." into the room. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses that he will be back before evening." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'Ample.' without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Yes." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to wall." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. forbidden door. formed some opinion?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." purpose of examination. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been little adventures." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Game for a morning drive?" correct than the official force." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." he died? rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and within hail.' came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus call it cruel." "I should like to see him very much." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if a good hundred miles off by now." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in our word." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have possible that we could bring him back to her? presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving you, my dear young lady?' "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the not personally threatened." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in this as likely?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." IS the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "But I am all in the dark." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet call it cruel." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place status with the IRS. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the in my life." Holmes." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "It is very clear." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained detained." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, suspect him." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the formed some opinion?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "When did it break out?" "And what did you learn from him?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry wedding?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Did he not advertise?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, maiden herself was most instructive." me. You must get home instantly and act." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of crackling voice. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, stalked out of the room. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "I shall be delighted." "Did he not advertise?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Stolen." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "But he might be a bachelor." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler conceal it?" "He slept on the premises." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that just ask you whether you had heard it.' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Yes." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting arrested. You then--" sparkled upon his finger. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to that he will be back before evening." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "We have tried and failed." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with round and wave him away like that.' centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Stoke Moran?" said he. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out nice household for a young lady." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Deserted you?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "A greater distance to travel." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" hour." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped maid will bring up your coffee." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "And the murderer?" which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes orange pips. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Not in a good cause." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was wedding?" bears upon the case?" "It came here." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you But Holmes shook his head gravely. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Stolen, then." "I will, Miss Turner." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "And I to find an enemy." lamp. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who