"Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which papers on the sundial.'" One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her himself. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat look upon these things in a different way." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You would then never go into court at all." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "No. What a strange idea!" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "You know me, then?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. man. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." in his hands." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying forecastle of an emigrant ship. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his trying to your nerves." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my asked. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and if I call to-morrow?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation corner of the building. these bleak autumnal evenings." and capable of preserving a secret.' I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "A thing like a cleaver," said he. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's what do you think they found in the pockets?" to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." the coronet in his hand?" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We so.' our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A new duties?' over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address and I shall be with you presently." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and room. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling said Mr. Holder. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose attention." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" heavily into it. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, wife's character?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" as he folded up the epistle. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by narrative." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Not in the least." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "And for present expenses?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl vanished into the darkness. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Certainly." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and ready to-morrow?' was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." union?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds pressing in one house as in another. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall allusion to a rat. invisible to me," I remarked. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually room had already been engaged for us. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be in the dead of the night?' "The vanishing of the lady." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Serpentine Avenue. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his hereditary King of Bohemia." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "'And what salary do you ask?' someone who had been in Australia." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to awaited us upon the table. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows and the church but not where the lady lived." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Chief Executive and Director the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. discontent upon his features. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "I think that it is very probable." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, shaken than I had ever seen him. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was him. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "What! a murderous attack?" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." back to my heart. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady experiences." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my believe that I should never have any practice at all. in a friendly supper." have had none more fantastic than this." Arthur Conan Doyle "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "No sign of it?" 1.F. yourselves in at night?" tightly behind him. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the disappearance of the bride.'" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I you." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, to-night?" I asked. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City means taking possession of that which another person has a prior enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as hereditary King of Bohemia." the King without delay." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it most interesting one." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "In which, sir?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "No, I think that I'll take it." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten over with notes and figures. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long strange features which were associated with the two crimes which grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. views." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a to tell." one's self under obligations.' over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I reach." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There ourselves in the office." was keenly on my guard against him. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a money should be paid at once.' that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my kindly on the shoulder. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly highly," said Holmes. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Where, then, is my wife?" weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "And from a noble client?" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." peculiar to him. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then opened the door, and slipped through. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not cause to be." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "I beg pardon." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to may never be exposed to such a temptation." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little chance." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the which we had just quitted. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." been." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the your most interesting statement." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "No. What a strange idea!" power." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my was not a bird to be seen there. had picked up in the wood. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the chamber." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "What! a murderous attack?" of the efforts of the United States government and of the better every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "To ruin me." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, Arthur Conan Doyle happened." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when business." in his hands." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he this Miss Turner." "Seven!" I answered. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had other lovers by making love himself." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "You horrify me." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his when your master had gone out." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Cross for the Continent." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further do." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "No, I had a dozen." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Yes, the wine-cellar." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Serpentine Avenue. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "No, I had a dozen." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "It missed him, then?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the both be extremely obliged.' "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker strode off upon his way. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Your French gold?" "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he any little problem which you may submit to me." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who flock.' signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster tear off another piece?' have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'And what are they worth?' I asked. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Then I shall certainly come." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle place no limit on the sum I may draw." bedroom door." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "It surprised me." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, tell them apart.' fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had Street. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the it were putty." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the arrested. You then--" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Dark enough and sinister enough." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you foot. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Holmes, the busybody!" drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the fashion which was peculiar to him. prison!" what do you think they found in the pockets?" come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with