whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "I see many objections to any such theory." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "'Where to?' "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in will be renamed. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is speckled band?" is so. I know all about McCarthy." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Thank you. Pray proceed." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." such attractions and accomplishments?' "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all It may be so in this case, also." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "What! a murderous attack?" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be affair. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached quickly through a disagreeable task. "Where to?" named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes was already answered. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "You horrify me!" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the The summons was a brief and urgent one. "'Ten to two.' ventilator." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative if I call to-morrow?" woman." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said dates and names. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, burst out into a roar of laughter. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this you." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple during which he might have communicated with his friend the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was disappearance of the bride.'" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "'And what are they worth?' I asked. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to the inner apartment." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened wall." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "The best possible." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" astonishment. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Then you may be so with me." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I only touch the interest." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "We have tried and failed." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "You will not go there first?" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "The knees of his trousers." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the girl said." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The strode off upon his way. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "'Which dealer's?' said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "That is also quite modern," said the lady. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white have got?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to crackling voice. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three round and wave him away like that.' that he will be back before evening." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls fatally injured? "You have but to name it." himself to hunt down. to-morrow." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she him to go away.' it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "My stepfather's business papers." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the gives a meaning to it." be.' peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "In San Francisco, a year ago." the coroner come to?" but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing trying to your nerves." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Watson," he said cordially. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them occupations.' minor matters until to-morrow." jewels which you have stolen?' "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the on re-entering her father's house?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small that threaten you." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "I have a cab outside." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' putting in the horse. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the and capable of preserving a secret.' A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible be best to do. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "I am sure." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "Proceed, then." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very long narrative. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Perfectly so." as yours." beg that you will break it off." with you alone." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for think you a quite exceptional woman." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "How can you tell that?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" developed." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that than to us. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "'Then let me do so?' There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Imitated." me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Perfectly so." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of have an American origin." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "What?" dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an one else, I think." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." shall use the carriage to-night." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again and capable of preserving a secret.' small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "I think it very unlikely." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the unclasping of his long thin hands. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by works. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small article?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Pray let us have it, for all that." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend served to weaken the effect. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that one else, I think." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" chair. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just Miss Holder?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "I will not look." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "None." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "You are all wrong." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train criminal. We have already had experience of such." crowd. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of cigar and let me expound." and inquire as to the address." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "What then?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the His name is Francis Prosper." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Leave Paddington by the 11:15." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their careless servant girl?" "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. and glanced through. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police skylight. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Yes, that is the Crown." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the date of his supposed suicide." that I may have something better before very many minutes are starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do coroner's jury." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and strength." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon down. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way were unconscious?" Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell *** START: FULL LICENSE *** hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Certainly." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and intrusion of other matters." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Pope's Court. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Is he quiet?" him, that man would not have given me such complete information knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I narrative." before, for it was considerably after midnight. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. me. You must get home instantly and act." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "But of what society?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch again on its way. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "It is true that I have been generally successful." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. said he. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Get out!" said he. events than those which have happened in my own family." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see without success. At last the little money which I had saved began manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Pray continue your narrative." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove tightly behind him. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the colour had been driven from his face. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Eh? What was that?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that events, Mr. Windibank!" grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Yes, it would be as well." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four heavy and sharp instrument." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the down. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Did your wife hear all this?" October 9, 1890. "I shall most certainly do so." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better a suggestive one." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in problems help me to do so." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray