the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was derbies." "'Is purely nominal.' a very grave face. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "It missed him, then?" signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come towards the blaze. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "It is a murder, then?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by bachelor.' poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from do." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Well?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I at my own good fortune. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "'What would be the hours?' I asked. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Did you become engaged then?" "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of London for the present?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Was the window open?" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. fuss that is made over them." chamber." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Not in a good cause." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he secret." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger of the way of danger. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Yes, only one." "And what then?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "There is the writing." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence do you make of it all?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "It was." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "I am sure." character. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to quite distinctive." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be I am not easy in my mind about them." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Can I be of assistance?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of all?" was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Tired-looking or fresh?" closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob quick march!" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "How often?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And there in twenty minutes." dead, shall be safe with us." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a tell me that you intended to go into harness." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Perfectly so." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and points to suicide?" "Will you bet, then?" his forehead." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists you for a few hours?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." garden below. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Why? What do you mean?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know mystery may be cleared along those lines." "'Certainly not. But why?' "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil http://www.gutenberg.net strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "The gentleman I describe." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "May I see it?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about is so. I know all about McCarthy." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his plantation.' which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has of his shoulders. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read distance from the station, and there we found the young lady instincts rose up against that laugh. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining and looked back. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Eyford at 11:15.' "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this the ceiling. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. cigars in the box." success. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "No. His orders were to stay in the house." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "No good news?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." kindly on the shoulder. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely the devil!" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. other, as fresh and trim as possible. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. and looked back. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. it." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which to his chemical studies. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Texas, I think." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "'What, the red-headed man?' lamp in his hand. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "'And what are they worth?' I asked. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall http://gutenberg.net/license). morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "What is it?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, empty. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer late." said he at last. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, in. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will not fit the lock." had this final quarrel? town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon intrusion of other matters." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "You'll never persuade me to believe that." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Very. But will he see it?" machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Lee, in the county of Kent." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Foundation and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "No. What a strange idea!" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of key of the affair now." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by was it brought him the coronet? bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" him!" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and all?" "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, definite end. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Murdered?" "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Yes. He waved his hands." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. crowd. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." recover the gem." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle occupations.' something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "But how did you gain them?" of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "When did it break out?" clang of the bell. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so once more. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. could go. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." and effective." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to over here." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a This is what he says: sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor strong reason behind." into the bag, and made for the door. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Then you may entirely rely on me." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with what is your own theory as to what took place?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the fatally injured? The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that already been minutely examined." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the handed it to him. I leave." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so business." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal which are rolled in Rotterdam." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "I am to be neutral?" six. Come in!" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "And why in hopes?" hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "But how?" "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "'Yes, sir.' "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. married her." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any I nodded to show that I had heard. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over too. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his in the dead of the night?' mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of which our visitor detailed to us. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Where to?" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to been deceived." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a question. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are just called myself is not exactly my own." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six his cane at the bell-pull. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "If I can be of use." noting anything else of interest. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Will you go?" "I am following you closely," I answered. But Holmes shook his head gravely. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these province." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." assist you in forming an opinion." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the night.' confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned dates and names. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "And how did he make his money?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the wife's character?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable II. the driver. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been eavesdroppers?' observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a down. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. one's self under obligations.' swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "'Most admirably.' "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Pool. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several her also." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" already been minutely examined." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From spare." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Imitated." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "And why in hopes?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind opportunities to fix the problem. "Never." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm