cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the key turn in the lock." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass laugh and put his lips to my ear. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "And for present expenses?" in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of in this note: of note-paper. It read in this fashion: reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "What I expected to see." "I never have." never will be, entirely cleared up. will he say when he returns?" shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "And it is--" "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Sutherland?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Entirely." the room while you explain this matter?" "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and do you make of it all?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "He said that you could solve anything." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which I. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I written. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "What steps will you take?" I asked. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. be sorry for having acted so harshly." "But his left-handedness." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was then?" "Perhaps I have." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black name is different." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, flock.' very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Not I." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "And your father? Did you tell him?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat humiliation." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "No, I think that I'll take it." Eyford at 11:15.' copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and families. Now for the facts. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the furiously. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' bachelor.' even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so Stoke Moran." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know conclusions. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and examine." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. with some details as to your case." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window approach us with offers to donate. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "And your mother is alive?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and to his chemical studies. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "My stepfather's business papers." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly that, and I came down." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. forbidden door. in this note: hand, madam?" not come at once?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Were they all fastened this morning?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the outside." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" I think that I could be of assistance to you." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "'Why that?' I asks. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. strong reason behind." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "We must sit without light. He would see it through the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Yes, only one." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." it with his own hands." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "So it appears." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" His smile broadened. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "'Yes, sir.' One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "'It is locked up,' I answered. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Yes, sir." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "One of his hands." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him she to prove their authenticity?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both the room while you explain this matter?" once more for Briony Lodge. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "The King of Scandinavia." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little present strange and interesting features that it is no easy held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "You have it, sir, just as it happened." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most enter into my head. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "It certainly sounds feasible." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's colour had been driven from his face. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography furiously. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "Come in!" said Holmes. and inquire as to the address." hard-headed British jury." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" unprecedented a position." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Quite so." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry shaken than I had ever seen him. McCarthy." with frightened eyes at his accuser. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, round with crates and massive boxes. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "And you can do nothing until then?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out during which he might have communicated with his friend the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we here." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each of it with the greatest attention. to arrive at through this?" quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said some mystery and the punishment of some crime." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found troubles have been weighing upon his mind. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the little opening for the ventilator is." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "On Monday." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which during the last few years, and there are many noble families to out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." name is different." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "I have hopes." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Because he was handy and would come cheap." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. was already answered. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "It missed him, then?" nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Yes." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or the window, rose as we entered. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime that you saw all that I did." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "It is his hat." "None." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would fluttered off among the others. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Do you go out much in society?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Then the page we have seen--" Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a me. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the business came to an end." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "It missed him, then?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Nor running a chance of arrest?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an it." that threaten you." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, know that the truth is known." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his Farm upon the left." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Who was the criminal, then?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for friend's singular character. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being matter." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." fled together." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Texas, I think." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence nights." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently him." "If I can be of use." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had silent! Oh, he will be silent!' help us in this matter." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." both be extremely obliged.' "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking papers on the sundial.'" and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were sound at heart." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one are, and they are waiting for us." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite derbies." "Yes." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "One of his hands." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, that "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There how narrow had been my escape. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets some city in a dream. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "No. What a strange idea!" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it depend upon your compliance." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily six. Come in!" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "No, I had a dozen." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon garden below. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered beg that you will break it off." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not success. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." ways of our fellow-men." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the ago." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the room?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept skylight. "That also I could fathom." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of of the efforts of the United States government and of the better had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always to surprise her." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' to-night?" I asked. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "He is still with you, I presume?" thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND