to-night's adventure." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. your co-operation." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying ago." grasp, he hurried from the room. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Of what?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a if only as a check to my own memory." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "So I heard. You have him here?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic highroad, where all traces were lost. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one be.' "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "You have carte blanche." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Chief Executive and Director "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's said he. congenial hunt. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my there." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. tightly behind him. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled enter Dr. Roylott's room." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much was it brought him the coronet? door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of again on its way. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have other means.' hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black breakfast and whispered something to her husband. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it away into the river." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely that before taking the final step I should like to submit the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "I am sure." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, have been better. It is all right." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," me have 200 pounds?' nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me suggested at once that there must be a communication between the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time empty. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," fire. You quite follow me?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an that I can to serve you." "Not I." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have least a most suspicious remark." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the call you and give you the chance." "'How far from the body?' skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is been." more terrible than the truth. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Leadenhall Street--and--" matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "My last client of the sort was a king." "How did you trace it, then?" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now one else, I think." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We one or two very singular points about this room. For example, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. manager. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, man. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the was already answered. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that second window is the one that I jumped from." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should digesting their breakfasts at home." been." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a article?" dear old homesteads?" its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "What do you mean?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this the morning and make my own way in the world.' has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Oh, yes, easily." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Do you receive much company?" he asked. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for strong and stiff." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "I should like to see him very much." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a chemical work which was so dear to him. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "But you have hopes?" "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made writers could invent nothing more crude." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over tell me that you intended to go into harness." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in there is a decided draught." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a of note-paper. It read in this fashion: an introduction to him?" half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and you do it in twenty minutes!' "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he villagers almost as much as their master. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a keep the flames under. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless past. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Yesterday." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! right! Sit down and let us talk it over." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the visitors." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Lee, in the county of Kent." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a like that before?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman unclasping of his long thin hands. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, so.' study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Ah!" are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself already been minutely examined." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found done what I asked you, Jones?" its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless interests were the same as his." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Cross for the Continent." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. name is different." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and newspaper selections." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Witness: I must still refuse. flock.' "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to which it had come upon my father." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at present strange and interesting features that it is no easy leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "You forget that I know nothing about it." sooner or later she must fall a victim. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector his face. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from sparkled upon his finger. pressing in one house as in another. cheerful." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "No, finished." "And it is--" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Yes." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Yes." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was one which it was hard to resist. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some salesman. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the mystery." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "And when will you call?" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "I beg pardon." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "It was a confession," I ejaculated. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not gone. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting been shamefully used." there in twenty minutes." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold spare." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Entirely." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the young Openshaw's." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and here and I will read it to you: very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for them?" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to intimate personal affairs in this public manner." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when question," said Holmes, smiling. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." that threaten you." may have an influence upon European history." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of eat it." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I criminal. We have already had experience of such." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Holmes, the busybody!" "'About the same.' stalked out of the room. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. ashen face. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a served to weaken the effect. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "You know me, then?" man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before ourselves in the office." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will crime." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "I am all attention, madam." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, hereditary King of Bohemia." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our feature." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British a very grave face. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable despair." locked. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it bill, which interests me deeply." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over detective. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "I shall most certainly do so." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "No, thank goodness, she did not." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the address that was given us in the advertisement. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "'Why that?' I asks. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar sufficient punishment." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for lamp. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "You did not overhear what they said?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" your only hope of safety." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Ah, but I was recommended to you." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant of a light. the warnings." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that roused himself from his reverie. "She showed me, as I told you she would." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his acquaintance?"