"Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear he. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. when your master had gone out." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his that I can to serve you." habit of advancing money.' presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. father's young wife. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our your equipment. to have that photograph." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush children over to America with him, so that I found myself without the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and conclusions. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the said he at last. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "By no means." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "He is dead," cried several voices. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that following enigmatical notices: into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' shag which I had seen upon the previous night. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "A greater distance to travel." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire with her." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, ways including including checks, online payments and credit card he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some astonishment. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he neither fascinating nor artistic." "Get out!" said he. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "No bad?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Then you may be so with me." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no back to my heart. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "It is very kind of you." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "But how?" "And is that all?" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She he died? himself. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "'Ten to two.' deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the may never be exposed to such a temptation." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Leadenhall Street--and--" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so wedding?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "My Mary? Impossible!" British peeress.'" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not desk. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a British peeress.'" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "It is possible." not within a twentieth part of the market price." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "And Miss Sutherland?" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Why did you beat the pavement?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "I will not look." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he call it cruel." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, is worth.' obstinate." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me may never be exposed to such a temptation." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced with frightened eyes at his accuser. to-night?' "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I am armed." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, yet." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a to-night?" I asked. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the congenial hunt. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six letters?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Nearly eleven." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had straighten it?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "You horrify me!" Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me matter." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "May I see it?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of him. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "The decline of his fortunes, then?" Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a the driver. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." nothing with him." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Has he come with you to-night?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "I say that I have solved it." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the ceiling. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "If I can be of use." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "In the cells." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the you." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Her father is very rich?" He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every chair. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Yes, at the mines." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had plantation.' was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Very truly yours, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily business." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I American. Then who could this American be, and why should he The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or it right.' have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch do you make of it all?" eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he You want to know what became of those geese?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt carriage. It was a chestnut." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far would apply.' events than those which have happened in my own family." weapon." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Very murderous indeed." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "What! a murderous attack?" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "I cannot tell." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. gentleman's clothes. my little problems." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight to his chemical studies. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of despaired of." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "No. What a strange idea!" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten until night should bring an explanation. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "No." to his chemical studies. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival my room." "Come in!" said Holmes. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "You horrify me!" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Never." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and of a light. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is nonsense.' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "'In my own bureau.' among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "I have my revolver," said I. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "And I to find an enemy." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own British peeress.'" Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "Which are?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in on in his house." door?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "'Certainly not. But why?' - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, fait accompli?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank you." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. London for the present?" ways of our fellow-men." what is your own theory as to what took place?" your bag." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The she might be summoned. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Holmes. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking my room." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent do you make of it all?" a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low outside." interested in these little problems, and since you are good Lee, in the county of Kent." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Not in the least." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the away to you." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards once more on the important position which you have been fortunate was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do may have an influence upon European history." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress interests were the same as his." me. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "It is very kind of you." at my remark. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Breckinridge is his name." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which window when the police appeared." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the notes," he said. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I returned to France?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his nights." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "In which, sir?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my