the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see as yours." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa I held the little printed slip to the light. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs him to go away.' Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in your equipment. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Yes, at the mines." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. if only as a check to my own memory." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "I am following you closely," I answered. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say indiscretion." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, formed some opinion?" "One of the highest in England." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that His name is Francis Prosper." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself there." "But how did you gain them?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, cigars in their mouths. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same strong reason behind." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down is now desirous of getting those letters back." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so you came in." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Street. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at into the bag, and made for the door. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under forbidden door. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an details should find their way into the papers. Inspector away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "And leave your case unfinished?" "I should like to see him very much." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "You are all wrong." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place for its centre. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" know that the truth is known." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, his cane at the bell-pull. lumber-room." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the My friend smiled. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers maiden herself was most instructive." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "No?" have one." upon an income of about 60 pounds." felt?" friend's singular character. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford to that open window." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" that I am arrested." you want, then?' A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Gutenberg-tm License. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that guilty one." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "And Miss Sutherland?" unclasping of his long thin hands. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic his face. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "I never have." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Then what has happened to him?" "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to papers diligently of late, have you not?" "It surprised me." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business right! Sit down and let us talk it over." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. to-night." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and Literary Archive Foundation following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in not as remarkable as your advertisement." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some little trying to do so much typewriting?" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could there." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, in this way: of it with the greatest attention. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the to that open window." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "What will you do, then?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was gbnewby@pglaf.org "I see no marks." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little both be extremely obliged.' "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you lectures into a series of tales." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. was not a bird to be seen there. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with read over the extraordinary announcement. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." Miss Holder?" 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Well, some hundreds of times." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very side. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "In what way?" asked Holmes. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many even of instruction." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." would apply.' but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "'Yes, I promise.' when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the memory. have not had my rubber." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. horse could go." once more for Briony Lodge. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "And why in hopes?" lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his with her." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "I am armed." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying examine." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "'It is locked up,' I answered. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable said he. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep forebodings. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his to arrive at through this?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "How do you know, then?" shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is next day. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction get the tickets." official police." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. and laid it on the table. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project had this final quarrel? "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned about. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a brain must have something in it." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the locked. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I to that open window." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country already been minutely examined." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "'And the work?' some terrible trap for her." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf both be extremely obliged.' I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "What office?" "What, then?" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who chambers. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Where did you address your letters, then?" them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Quite so." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and records." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are seven miles from Eyford Station.' The summons was a brief and urgent one. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "But the mystery?" "'What, the red-headed man?' "What will you say?" and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing His smile broadened. to take care of herself." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Pray be precise as to details," said he. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, served to weaken the effect. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "That is also quite modern," said the lady. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my of." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "This concluded the examination of the witness." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "I should like to see him very much." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door fishes. "What! a murderous attack?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "How did you trace it, then?" agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "That is also quite modern," said the lady. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "No more words. Get out!" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Heh?' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be wedding?" the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see presented which may be striking and bizarre without being though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "And help." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Then I am your man." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself held up the lantern and gazed about him. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "I came to find a friend." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the running down." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "'Yes, I promise.' "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "The knees of his trousers." other, as fresh and trim as possible. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, me. You must get home instantly and act." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had through." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour strange features which were associated with the two crimes which ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it shoulder. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign gives a meaning to it." "She told me to ask you." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "My own seal." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We gigantic client. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Yes." fat-encircled eyes. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "What office?" abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So orange pips. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "But who is he?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "We must have a cab." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "How often?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' said he. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to