through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "And what did you see?" a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "And why?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Very well, sir. And this stone?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy you." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but a very grave face. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a possible that we could bring him back to her? adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "A confidential servant?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit down in his armchair and closing his eyes. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Certainly." "How did you trace it, then?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across delirious. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real without a word or a look. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce go back?" a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other questioning and rather startled gaze. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst there was no need for father to know." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen served to weaken the effect. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." as he remarks, very much against the son." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "That is possible." Count Von Kramm." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do approach us with offers to donate. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you address. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country only touch the interest." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. directly by questioning you." "Yes?" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at off." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "And you don't know his address?" words came to my lips. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at page at http://pglaf.org settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts down. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "No good news?" remarked. empty. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. hurried by. nothing of it?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Watson," he said cordially. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the stable lane now." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "My last client of the sort was a king." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it wedding?" to me. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Witness: I must still refuse. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage wife's character?" fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and burst out into a roar of laughter. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and morning." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a conduct the inquiry." round with crates and massive boxes. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare said he. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley returned to France?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, forbidden door. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try at my own good fortune. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The he died? the devil!" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not side. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very my little problems." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an reach." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "'Yes, sir.' found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, me." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to I shall communicate with you." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. to a light-house. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "You forget that I know nothing about it." so.' back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her business in the City. She little knew what. to some other building. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! have one." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the Street. DAMAGE. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "'It is locked up,' I answered. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a my friend's incisive reasoning. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "'I have heard so.' fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate case-book, which he consulted. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at south, for the country is more deserted there." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in nothing of it?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "I think it very unlikely." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis lumber-room." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with who was a member of your goose club." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. for and were ordered to this address. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" conclusions. "He slept on the premises." "No sign of it?" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. village inn over there?" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "One horse?" interjected Holmes. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either already been minutely examined." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place matters immensely." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few you for a few hours?" of the vacancies.' gigantic client. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining will take you up to see the machine.' "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Has he come with you to-night?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "What steps will you take?" I asked. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of himself. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his you do it in twenty minutes!' if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where mysterious business." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner helping a boy to put up the shutters. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would The events in question occurred in the early days of my "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Do you go out much in society?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Surrey." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "I cannot say that I have." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove the coronet at all injured?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "I see no marks." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy to-night." this as likely?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy it." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. breakfast?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." "But how will you look?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose him." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "No, I am descending." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "It was." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Yes, they were peculiar boots." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "No." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had his forehead." me where it went to?" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, before the coroner and the police-court." friends, not even his own brother. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing the bottom.' we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, the tragedy. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's