began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "Stolen." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight DISSOLVED. to arrive at through this?" be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have how narrow had been my escape. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." Literary Archive Foundation morning." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial to his chemical studies. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "That you are never beaten." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "I have hopes." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "The murder was done with it." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no she might be summoned. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a nothing with him." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. neither fascinating nor artistic." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary with the outside air!" 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to and wait." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Precisely." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was had picked up in the wood. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "But what harm can there be in that?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The hair?' interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with might have a private word with us. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Very well, sir. And this stone?" pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the chill to my heart. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small detained." "Your sister is dead, then?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker heavily into it. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place affair. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Was the window open?" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door his cane at the bell-pull. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Pope's Court, Fleet Street." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Edgeware Road. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, be best to do. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Yes." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter union?" compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any character. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, public press." tapping his fingers upon the table. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a the morning and make my own way in the world.' making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "No, I think that I'll take it." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a salesman. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of Street. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "No, but the enclosure is." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia passage and a tap at the door. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Yes, at the mines." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that sentimental considerations in the background which would induce coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked you." your co-operation." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers swore that no one else had been in the front room during the come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and completely overtopped every other consideration that we both have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Won't it ring?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you tear off another piece?' of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "'In my own bureau.' and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself companion. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an lost nothing by them." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the fuss that is made over them." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in article?" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may other means.' that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Very well, sir. And this stone?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up companion imperturbably. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very narrative." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the fled together." do.' son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "None." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me sentimental considerations in the background which would induce of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "But his lameness?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to my special province." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there with her." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you you?' "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "I think that it is very probable." "And what then?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Yes, at the mines." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and leaning back in his chair. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you call for protection in the marriage market, for the present could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double said he at last. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "From his hat?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to way in everything. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the inquest, and which are worth considering." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more McCarthy." paper in the air. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "My photograph." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I notes," he said. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to already referred to. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "'There is a drive, then?' rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, in. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There was feeling which was the fattest.' seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with License. You must require such a user to return or I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you to a light-house. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both there has been an enclosure here!" perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "You horrify me!" he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, an introduction to him?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect opened a pocket-book and took out a note. whole matter to your consideration." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the were unconscious?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "'Certainly not. But why?' "Not social, then?" the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "It is possible." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never weighed down with some great anxiety. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered *** START: FULL LICENSE *** few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he God! What an exposure! What can I do?" police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "The Coroner: What do you mean? than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "I cannot say that I have." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Only as much as we can deduce." weapon." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to have established a very serious case against the son of the "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "And you thought he was pulled back?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the you give your casting vote to?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Leadenhall Street--and--" of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and forehead. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting you in yours." himself to hunt down. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until suggested at once that there must be a communication between the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Then I do not see the point." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His ashen face. "How on earth--" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as village inn over there?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Yes?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Won't it ring?" for securing the situation." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "'Certainly not.' When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Certainly." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "No." "Yes, it would be as well." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it nonsense.' "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "And is that all?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout The events in question occurred in the early days of my Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an our word." letters?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of you in yours." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the with some details as to your case." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with a few minutes he said that it would be all right.