"Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "One?" "It goes to the housekeeper's room." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and companion quietly. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the o'clock is it?" "We have tried and failed." "And now?" He raised his hand. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging followed. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, three of the beryls in it, was missing. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their question. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of go from here to the Strand." said I. The events in question occurred in the early days of my vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow results." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the despaired of." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "And now?" He raised his hand. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not know all about it," he snarled. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "It is very kind of you." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "How about poison?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few gbnewby@pglaf.org "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into which should have the effect of calling the attention of the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "'And the work?' anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I happened." meant it for the best. "None." gives a meaning to it." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she appointment with me for six o'clock?" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, to change my dress. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon opened a pocket-book and took out a note. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the electronic works even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously individual and becomes the badge of a society." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if dates and names. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions again." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "None." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Yes." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here signal between you and your father? second." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." front of me. "One of his hands." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of the matter." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the looking up at the numbers of the houses." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, he died? with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "The King of Scandinavia." "Witness: I must still refuse. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which call the police, let the police find what they can.' he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may know what is wrong with it.' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a public press." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your yet." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the warnings." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the go--none." "That was it, sir." I am not easy in my mind about them." to a light-house. the night.' sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It of the one which your family is now devouring." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." envelope. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "And your father? Did you tell him?" breakfast." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Stoke Moran?" said he. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming might help us?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous province." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a in your London, you will know that the office of the company is old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Of what day?" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Indeed! Whose, then?" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every wedding?" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the your equipment. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Holmes' face clouded over. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Why did you pick him?" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on locked." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank someone who had been in Australia." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "How did you deduce the select?" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and retorted upon me, and I on you." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "'Never,' said I. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an as he remarks, very much against the son." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Did your wife hear all this?" without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New best detective that ever lived. "And Irene Adler?" Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Yes, only one." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "'How far from the body?' wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of himself. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of photograph a cabinet?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my which I could not give. He asked for Alice. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I charge against him will break down." speckled band?" "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these that I may have something better before very many minutes are of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before empty. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' indeed happy." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to deduce something from that?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the coat-tails." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of father's young wife. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." unclasping of his long thin hands. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "And Irene Adler?" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "And how did you verify them?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE noting anything else of interest. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the general public were present, then?" and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was galvanised. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Her father is very rich?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but you." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Absolutely?" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "My dear Holmes!" "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." His smile broadened. room. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "'Yes, I promise.' "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, me. You must get home instantly and act." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "I cannot tell." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged pound a week." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "9th. McCauley cleared. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "The Cedars?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, may never be exposed to such a temptation." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away made his money." to tell." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "So I am. Very much so." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were ventilator." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and the so-precious time, but come!' and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Quite so. She has her freedom." "But his left-handedness." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord eavesdroppers?' As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons other means.' do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room system of imprisonment?" foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "What steps will you take?" I asked. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a his knees, staring into the fire. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Come in!" said he. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your again, where I was soon asleep. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. best detective that ever lived. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang father's place of business?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Holmes' face clouded over. "Yes, sir." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a very old mansion. depend upon my doing so.' "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his think, you have already met." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "They are typewritten," I remarked. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "Yes, certainly." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Lee, in the county of Kent." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his cigars in the box." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room think that he is innocent?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What to me. to tell." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "You think that he is dead?" any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "That also I could fathom." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips case-book, which he consulted. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to that I can to serve you." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her very peculiar words of the dying woman?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes suddenly upon us." "Frequently." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "And the cigar-holder?" introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Yes?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "And sit in the dark?" this as likely?" looking up at the numbers of the houses."