I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "The murder was done with it." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "What office?" with you alone." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in individual and becomes the badge of a society." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "No." fluttered off among the others. "None." daring than any effort of the imagination." "I shall most certainly do so." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his spare." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his Pope's Court. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. distinguish the words: "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "No, finished." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. you?' "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. narrative." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for up this clue while it is still hot." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him away in different directions, and I went off to make my own impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the as noiselessly as she had come. coroner's jury." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You details." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the south, for the country is more deserted there." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. conceal it?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "And how did you verify them?" since then to throw any light upon what became of him." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up searched, without anything being found which could incriminate to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else of them has the shutters up.' as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, October 9, 1890. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good lids now and glanced across at his visitor. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "I see many objections to any such theory." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "'As governess?' "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had of this gang." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a it." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Then I can wait in the next room." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Then I can wait in the next room." "No?" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His must compliment you." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." I shall communicate with you." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me distance from the station, and there we found the young lady India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged in the dead of the night?' behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "And is that all?" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "A call for help, you thought?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "'I am sure that I do not know.' again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last light and attacked it." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. I nodded to show that I had heard. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting delighted to hear it," he said. him. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other my special province." hands. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without enough to aid us in our search." more terrible than the truth. that little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "'Where could I find him?' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was once more on the important position which you have been fortunate I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Yes." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. wedding?" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was you." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, be best to do. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Holmes." such attractions and accomplishments?' is," said he presently: work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of 1.F. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm McCarthy's innocence. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man populous neighbourhood." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into which we had just quitted. burst out into a roar of laughter. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "It certainly sounds feasible." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have directly by questioning you." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "'And what are they worth?' I asked. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your experiences." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, to you." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper him!" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close there." was feeling which was the fattest.' DISSOLVED. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have house for five minutes.' eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "What can you not understand?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I note?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Murdered?" on in his house." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "In what way?" asked Holmes. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' dead, shall be safe with us." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "In heaven's name, what for?" "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "What! a murderous attack?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "And now?" He raised his hand. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter come either from the window or the door. My attention was been deceived." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in depend upon my doing so.' Gutenberg-tm License. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, help us in this matter." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have long narrative. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "And help." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though guilty one." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed neither fascinating nor artistic." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, my special province." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds business at Coburg Square is serious." criminal. We have already had experience of such." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked know that the truth is known." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet had a long day." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for tightly behind him. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of could not account in any way for the presence of the missing and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it to a more successful conclusion." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, that?' our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted opportunities to fix the problem. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove whatever might befall. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can was once confined in the cab my mission was practically invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "The doctor?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Frequently." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Will you go?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really one's self under obligations.' the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing sake, don't!" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have breakfast?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a McCarthy's innocence. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through the very morning of the wedding." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. crime. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the during that time.' "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "And I." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook individual and becomes the badge of a society." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it bell. Holmes whistled. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else felt the room to be a little close.' were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. fuss that is made over them." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders of the one which your family is now devouring." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied on re-entering her father's house?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was page at http://pglaf.org anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, what I may call a really hard day's work." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." his wife has ceased to love him." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but handed it to him. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Certainly." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even best detective that ever lived. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which becomes even more simple." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I enter into my head. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "'Never.' fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Pray tell us what has happened to you." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door not personally threatened." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "The knees of his trousers." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen felt the room to be a little close.' own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of that I can to serve you." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," your troubles." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became unprecedented a position." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. cigars in the box." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the went to the Alpha were town bred." to arrive at through this?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." grasp, he hurried from the room. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in then?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was The summons was a brief and urgent one. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise his cane at the bell-pull. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "If I can be of use." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "She will not sell." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY himself to tell his story. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'Oh, no.' that?' far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to three of the beryls in it, was missing. said Mr. Holder.