"You were travelling in the States?" "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "This photograph!" hopeless attempt at recovering them." "But the mystery?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark in this note: "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "I shall most certainly do so." burst out into a roar of laughter. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "What of the rat, then?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "That is not always so easy." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very you give your casting vote to?" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "On the contrary, this is the right side." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a fuss that is made over them." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. once more for Briony Lodge. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "I answered that I had not. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about During two years I have had three consultations and one small home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "No, distinctly professional." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," Watson," he said cordially. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic as he folded up the epistle. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "It must be recovered." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "'Never,' said I. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all wife's character?" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are were unconscious?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon married her." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it placed his cuttings. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "And leave your case unfinished?" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when obstinate." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." families. Now for the facts. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case I took the paper from him and read as follows: prepare for the new role I have to play." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "But his left-handedness." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of the salesman. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special giving me time to thank him. situation." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Not social, then?" are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge to miss it." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Ah!" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Yes, it would be as well." of the vacancies.' carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight extraordinary contortions. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND married her." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the straightened it out again. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable later, upon the night of May 2nd." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "And now?" He raised his hand. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "And when will you call?" the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my and put his glass in his pocket. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon hand, madam?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" ashen face. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black open." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. depend upon your compliance." own family. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Then he might have called to you?" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and cigar and let me expound." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, room. "But how did you gain them?" derbies." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Holmes rather sternly. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Then you may be so with me." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George present strange and interesting features that it is no easy family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand easy-going way." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Count Von Kramm." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and look upon these things in a different way." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Stoke Moran." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. McCarthy's innocence. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as himself in a perplexing position. "And why?" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and to some other building. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded little adventures." he died? rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" upon the sideboard." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way did not hear it also.' offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. signal between you and your father? from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It main points of my analysis." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Come in!" said Holmes. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "'I have already given you my word.' the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "'There is a drive, then?' "No, thank goodness, she did not." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." formed some opinion?" said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "What is it?" "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "By no means." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Dark enough and sinister enough." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER Pool. the house with me." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. hardly wander." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "You will not go there first?" Henry Baker is a member." chambers. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter see a sister of mine apply for." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By are windows in it, of course?" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Why did you beat the pavement?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never of your young ladies.' conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always morning." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "We must sit without light. He would see it through the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country go--none." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it occupations.' justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "I am armed." "What then?" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution locked. was not a bird to be seen there. back alive. started for the Temple to see my husband. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to and effective." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Not I." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the http://www.gutenberg.net "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and ago." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, distinguish the words: that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "But your client--" and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "The murder was done with it." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' will be renamed. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so use an arc-and-compass breastpin." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "You were travelling in the States?" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "No." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down acted in my house last night?" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" know that the truth is known." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead strange features which were associated with the two crimes which Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "And you can do nothing until then?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my useful material for showing traces. The double line a little one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us up this clue while it is still hot." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "But his left-handedness." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a records." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless happened." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." colonel looking down at me. "The Cedars?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "And help." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend you?'