which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Does that suggest anything?" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See true." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been must be when I saw the door open.' insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of this truth that in these little records of our cases which you some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of furiously. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old case before our client came into the room." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was advice." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Leave Paddington by the 11:15." do.' "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "And what did you learn from him?" the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of useful material for showing traces. The double line a little which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it begun to whiten, even as mine has." when you have done it." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "And why?" the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight within hail.' Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed which was all perfectly true. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy vague figure huddled up in the darkness. I took the paper from him and read as follows: hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward During two years I have had three consultations and one small seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer your billet.' "Is he quiet?" details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined upon the sideboard." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you from the brougham. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb bird of prey. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." to take care of herself." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure families. Now for the facts. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "'What are you doing there?' he asked. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he figure." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was be.' carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." morning." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "He said that you could solve anything." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. business came to an end." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in and the colonel ushered me in. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my anything to do with the matter?" Literary Archive Foundation forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Of what?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly everything which you would wish to know." papers must be those that are destroyed.' although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner was a perfect sample of the class. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an instituted." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "And what then?" to that open window." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "'Oh, no.' strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled other means.' "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "And now?" I asked. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad crime. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I will not take me long to tell. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some presume?" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND and shall probably return to London by the evening train." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "I am all attention, madam." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City he bowed and left the room without another word. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "But of what society?" brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the should be so warm over such a trifle." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I yet." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but all-comprehensive glances. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "I was sure that I might rely on you." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as could not have written that. It is the German who is so hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "You think so, too?" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "But his lameness?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic annoyance, but no jest. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" following enigmatical notices: Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon brandy and water within his reach. his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "And the cigar-holder?" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his seem to you to be relevant or not." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! Project Gutenberg-tm works. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "No. What a strange idea!" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking this Miss Turner." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained annoyance, but no jest. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" speckled band?" "Nothing." you give your casting vote to?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our heavy and sharp instrument." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a held up the lantern and gazed about him. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a You want to know what became of those geese?" But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "What can it mean?" I gasped. "The vanishing of the lady." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "'Is purely nominal.' comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was in your London, you will know that the office of the company is goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "I say that I have solved it." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "It came here." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his photograph a cabinet?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A the roots. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in night.' said he. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Certainly." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." problems help me to do so." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which of the one which your family is now devouring." fishes. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The For additional contact information: recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "It certainly sounds feasible." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a a room. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my go back?" a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly undoubtedly my uncle's." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "It is possible." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only views." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I am all attention, madam." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "One of his hands." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "No, my brougham is waiting." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you were unconscious?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of populous neighbourhood." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "My opinion is in no way altered." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some pity, because in other respects you would really have done very sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon the side-table." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "You think so, too?" That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking point our research must commence, and we will begin it by charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until galvanised. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband never will be, entirely cleared up. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst open." British peeress.'" conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "An accident, I presume?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. returned to France?" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Why did you beat the pavement?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, within hail.' my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "And leave your case unfinished?" coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" late!' "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "What do you mean?" the roots. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his must be when I saw the door open.' fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand bird I ate is country bred." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the up this clue while it is still hot." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "But how will you look?" "'Yes, it was gone.' daring than any effort of the imagination." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped waste of energy." really the only notable feature about the thing." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich presume?" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper and prosperity to your house. Good-night." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was manager. "And from a noble client?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project the night.' come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "'I have already given you my word.' "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet nights." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "But she could not love him." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Then what has happened to him?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in but preventing her from injuring another. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, where we are going." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been