accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow habit of advancing money.' business." "'I shall certainly be there.' "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. chamber." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds whereabouts. as he folded up the epistle. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. tail." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The what is your own theory as to what took place?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which any little problem which you may submit to me." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Witness: I must still refuse. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which fatally injured? little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "And help." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Was your sister dressed?" stammered. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. case before our client came into the room." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the strength in the others." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Precisely." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you habit of advancing money.' have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the matter." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Countess of Morcar's?" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a wall." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my page at http://pglaf.org up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to one of the states of the Union." were new raised from a basin. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. interest. They are important, you understand, without being bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." miles off. rat could hardly pass through." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "And from a noble client?" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." which are rolled in Rotterdam." and wait." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "I am to be neutral?" Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man floor. meant." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Upon what point?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "It is solved." and inquire as to the address." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you we went to search for him, face downward in a little knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that do.' tail." late!' morning." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "What office?" was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that be there in time for your coming." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, British peeress.'" assist you in forming an opinion." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that she to prove their authenticity?" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "No." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "I was afraid that you were engaged." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "So it appears." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I had picked up in the wood. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said take the flies, but not before." it means?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Pray do so." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "VIOLET HUNTER." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "And the murderer?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come this man was intellectual?" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw already referred to. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the union?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can James Windibank. Voilà tout!" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank success. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he you?" There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "'I am sure that I do not know.' think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all young Openshaw's." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling in the dead of the night?' "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "I see no marks." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the very letters. But what is this written above them?' the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at way in." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a always that they were such commands as a lady might with for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way highroad, where all traces were lost. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." kind enough to tell me what I should do." manager. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? an introduction to him?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall few hundred pounds.' death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of and a shock of very red hair. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," have one." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely suddenly upon us." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. room had already been engaged for us. girl said." felt?" "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his into the room. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in morning." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting II. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the hands. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "What! You do not mean bodies?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "And Miss Sutherland?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my such person." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the south-west, I see." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "And now?" He raised his hand. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Frequently." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the despaired of." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything in him." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and capable of preserving a secret.' three fields round his house, and there he would take his have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of happened." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Perhaps we may make them less so." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots me, and I could not think that his explanation of the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler must be when I saw the door open.' this Miss Turner." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank more terrible than the truth. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss happened." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five late." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the himself in a perplexing position. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "The Coroner: What do you mean? "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be occupations.' came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Very murderous indeed." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "And how did you verify them?" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which be sorry for having acted so harshly." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building flock.' Holmes rather sternly. thought that she would have been so carried away." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "But how?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a said I. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." presented more singular features than that which was associated hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will matter over." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling be.' "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the ways of our fellow-men." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "To an end?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "And why?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' to that open window." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in was a perfect sample of the class. "How did you deduce the select?" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "He is still with you, I presume?" "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt not interfere, come what may. You understand?" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "The knees of his trousers." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "But you have hopes?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "And I." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down