about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little desk. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Here?" glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "So I heard. You have him here?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are had formerly been in part my own. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of that It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. money should be paid at once.' call for protection in the marriage market, for the present which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend him, that man would not have given me such complete information fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "What! You do not mean bodies?" There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Where did you address your letters, then?" quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "The vanishing of the lady." be. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, disappearance of these gems?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you not as remarkable as your advertisement." directors, with the result that you have seen." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "'Certainly not.' into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something is so. I know all about McCarthy." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace promised to bring home. "Perhaps we may make them less so." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net indeed which he could not unravel. definite end. murdered man." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers there when the Rucastles went away." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "'Certainly,' I answered. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out papers diligently of late, have you not?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the jewels which you have stolen?' are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the crime. "Witness: I must still refuse. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in was a lad." "I beg pardon." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." there in twenty minutes." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the keep the flames under. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some you?" without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took business matters.' speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but walking." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a again." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing copied or distributed: "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "I am in hopes that she does." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "'What, the red-headed man?' fact, we may call it conclusive." at home. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love know what is wrong with it.' during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the is acting for the best. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the me have 200 pounds?' should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him generous with you in money matters.' "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "It is half-past ten now." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. together. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad had died away into the silence from which it rose. "At the wedding breakfast." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Yes, at the mines." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Well." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "You think so, too?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "So I have heard." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What direction." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical maid will bring up your coffee." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." affection." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the running down." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a to have been novel and of interest." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of green of the new foliage. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very I approached. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, shoulder; "he's all right." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own morning." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "He might." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his your bag." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There forecastle of an emigrant ship. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Did you observe the colour?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for the child." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The humiliation." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through the south-west, I see." enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as the coronet in his hand?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this that I am arrested." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it coat-tails." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Was he the only applicant?" They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four village inn over there?" "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the do you make of it all?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "None." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "But you have hopes?" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and be. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "I have come for advice." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND that, and I came down." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any nights." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business recover the gem." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and soul! here is her carriage at the door." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort salesman. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "But she will refuse." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I examine." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Why, it's a dummy," said he. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "I have hopes." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," chance at all." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the matter." lost his Christmas dinner." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "Yes." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of 11:15.' afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie 'please.'" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "And did you observe any change in her then?" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use gentleman's clothes. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of allusion to a rat. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "You were travelling in the States?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. directly by questioning you." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. lamp. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong think that he is innocent?" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Farm upon the left." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I his cane at the bell-pull. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Yes, but only for you and me." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the feature." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then vanished into the darkness. "9th. McCauley cleared. "'Yes.' toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed is worth.' hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered would apply.' prison!" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in face and glided from the room. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "But you can know nothing of this?" "And why?" "By train from Waterloo." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "In heaven's name, what for?" practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Doctor, of the paper and the date." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Gutenberg-tm License. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Not him." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly back alive. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Not social, then?" you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful late." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' extraordinary contortions. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Will you bet, then?" "Then I can wait in the next room." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "But how?" shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself anything to do with the matter?" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this Pope's Court, Fleet Street." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried signal between you and your father? force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "How do you know, then?"