"I see no marks." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Yes, but only for you and me." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Nothing." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried companion quietly. them, and came down just as you departed. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can nothing with him." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on me upon any point which I do not make clear." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So cigars in their mouths. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that and files of the old papers, following the future career of every his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg your co-operation." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "And how did he make his money?" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Texas, I think." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the him, that man would not have given me such complete information not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Not in a good cause." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has both be extremely obliged.' "And how did you verify them?" point our research must commence, and we will begin it by ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with and wait." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the man. I know him from the photograph." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I tapping his fingers upon the table. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that appointment with me for six o'clock?" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than things are very often connected not with the larger but with the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner indeed which he could not unravel. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "How are you getting on?" "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the newspaper selections." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who conduct the inquiry." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the do you make of it all?" not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Yes?" desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "I never have." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on cost them two and thirty pounds." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought highly," said Holmes. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, seen the man in the road." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in disturbance in my wife." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and them, and came down just as you departed. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard there has been an enclosure here!" man. I know him from the photograph." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Not I." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of to Leatherhead. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "If I can be of use." Pope's Court. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise newspaper selections." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "'Ten to two.' "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." I nodded again. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it again." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into cigars in their mouths. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Won't it ring?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Did your wife hear all this?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Yes, it would be as well." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Bought." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "But you can know nothing of this?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "And help." and looked back. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, quite distinctive." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and had no one to advise her at such a crisis." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple an introduction to him?" done what I asked you, Jones?" he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "The gentleman I describe." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Your French gold?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need observed. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "It is very clear." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a to where he stood hid behind the curtain. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, was a perfect sample of the class. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the dramatic, in fact." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had the iron safe, which he closed upon it. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "In the cells." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever face and glided from the room. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know down from London to inquire more deeply into it." mystery!" have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have you for a few hours?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly name is different." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I guessed as much." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "'A dozen yards or so.' James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "My dear Holmes!" "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of looking up at the numbers of the houses." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. annoyance, but no jest. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "'You cannot say what it was?' well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power golden eyeglasses. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Entirely." brain must have something in it." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some you?' straighten it?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been away to you." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Again Holmes raved in the air. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Yes, he did." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British so far?" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about intrusion of other matters." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my straighten it?" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "A call for help, you thought?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that salesman. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "The knees of his trousers." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. and your relations to her." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "'Where to?' "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. or in danger--" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "What is it, then--a fire?" Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Your presence might be invaluable." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "An accident, I presume?" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By interests were the same as his." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are weapon." "That is possible." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Ah!" something of him before." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Do you know him?" "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it you." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the any little problem which you may submit to me." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it hurried away. "Then, as to money?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Munro.' this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in to miss it." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Yes, sir." "And how have you succeeded?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "In San Francisco, a year ago." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "How on earth--" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "But it has twice been burgled." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "I beg pardon." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the that I may have something better before very many minutes are had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND o'clock is it?" "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice lamp in his hand. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave business in the City. She little knew what. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the bird I ate is country bred." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! unkempt, staring out at me. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "You don't mind breaking the law?" of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Where to?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his my friend's incisive reasoning. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "I will not look." towards the blaze. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Stoke Moran." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "In the cells." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole chambers. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Not in the least." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Then what has happened to him?" "No." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Nothing?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "And for present expenses?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." business in the City. She little knew what. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to all-comprehensive glances. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend