Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have you." sound at heart." spare." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Edgeware Road. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I you." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My suddenly upon us." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, charge against him will break down." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." intrusion of other matters." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his take the flies, but not before." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are and laid it on the table. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel direction." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. the devil!" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter of receipt of the work. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point fear." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black village inn over there?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting call for it in person on Monday morning.' going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Farm upon the left." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, I was concerned in it." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in be. "But how did you gain them?" strode off upon his way. http://www.gutenberg.net "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "The doctor?" "Where, then, is my wife?" intrusion of other matters." pressing in one house as in another. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises obstinate." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, relief. such person." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he occurred." maiden herself was most instructive." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." not within a twentieth part of the market price." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise behind me. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in hardly wander." not within a twentieth part of the market price." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out The King stared at him in amazement. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "On Monday." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "No bad?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "I never have." were wasted." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are copied or distributed: "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Then, how do you know?" without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "One of his hands." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque spare." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and shall use the carriage to-night." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very putting in the horse. certainly not very gracious." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or round and wave him away like that.' matters immensely." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "You have a clue?" pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "'Certainly not. But why?' nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive case before our client came into the room." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "You are certainly joking, Holmes." entirely devoid of interest." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. head. So long, then!" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "But you have hopes?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "My own seal." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men what I may call a really hard day's work." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Indeed! Whose, then?" up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "I shall be delighted." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are where she found matters as described by the last witness. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned from the brougham. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was lectures into a series of tales." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "When did she vanish, then?" "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining had a long day." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel you for a few hours?" "At half-wages, in fact." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." more terrible than the truth. thought that she would have been so carried away." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that there!' and effective." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Quite so." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled most interesting one." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear that there was nothing in it, after all." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "You know me, then?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On sufficient punishment." call the police, let the police find what they can.' Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "Imitated." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "'What do you call purely nominal?' in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be that you wished to speak to me?' recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just to-night?" I asked. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, weary and pale-looking. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured any more." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his not as remarkable as your advertisement." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'Oh, no.' "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "And who is her maid?" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Very well, sir. And this stone?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "No, I had a dozen." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive been with you?" look upon these things in a different way." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "No?" peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may there." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper girl said." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Was he the only applicant?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing new acquaintance to Baker Street. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Mrs. Toller serenely. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets relation between them, and what the object of his repeated said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This whole matter to your consideration." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Pope's Court, Fleet Street." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." used to be." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "I came to find a friend." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your of it with the greatest attention. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced a room. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Bought." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after a good hundred miles off by now." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you dear old homesteads?" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his long narrative. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "She showed me, as I told you she would." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to lids now and glanced across at his visitor. once more to my work. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "The best possible." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or the station." highly," said Holmes. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right more solid." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his instincts rose up against that laugh. You want to know what became of those geese?" all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. the house with me." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge a good hundred miles off by now." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. them?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry open." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "What is it?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the is four-and-twenty." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "And why?" which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by mystery!" she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility his fortune, and I went back to pa. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine hour." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be possible that we could bring him back to her? eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Oh, yes, easily." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "'You cannot say what it was?' "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached that, and I came down." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "'What then?' I asked. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that