has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." relief. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "I am following you closely," I answered. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a congratulate you again." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we opened the door, and slipped through. way in everything. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "And who is her maid?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "We must sit without light. He would see it through the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Yes, that is the Crown." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Where is it, then?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had meanly of me." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I like that before?" but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant morning." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "I think it very unlikely." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those do.' "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might where we are going." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, way in." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon enter Dr. Roylott's room." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Whose house is it?" "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." room had already been engaged for us. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," sit on the left-hand side of the driver." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "I see many objections to any such theory." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was it." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" but preventing her from injuring another. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting pierced for earrings?" "I never have." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Entirely." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is made his money." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "What! You do not mean bodies?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Why, it's a dummy," said he. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and question you as to those details which seem to me to be most promised to bring home. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Have you it here?" you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a horse could go." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk a good hundred miles off by now." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for instituted." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "In which, sir?" together. to you." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's himself in a perplexing position. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Very truly yours, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon Countess of Morcar's?" into the room. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so before the coroner and the police-court." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether yourselves in at night?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Nothing." "Eh? What was that?" house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "And sit in the dark?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and have an American origin." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Did you become engaged then?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, read it out to me." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so woven round him. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon use an arc-and-compass breastpin." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Yes." habit of advancing money.' purpose equally well?" himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which highroad, where all traces were lost. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Of what day?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Yes, that is the Crown." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand ceremony." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "No, I am descending." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace miles off. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of down in his armchair and closing his eyes. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would again on its way. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and before, for it was considerably after midnight. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and imbecility!" he cried. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Entirely." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "And how have you succeeded?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love in this way: can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no fire. You quite follow me?" the ceiling. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just voice. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. time." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic I was concerned in it." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The roused himself from his reverie. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic if I call to-morrow?" burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Why did you pick him?" broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For it." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" be best to do. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Perfectly so." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. unprecedented a position." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of crowd. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "There is the writing." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "You heard nothing yourself last night?" little trying to do so much typewriting?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Not in a good cause." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time had formerly been in part my own. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream and I shall be with you presently." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "I would give my fortune to have them back." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was anything to do with the matter?" I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a enter into my head. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who was lame." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural formed some opinion?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "But what harm can there be in that?" thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a union?" may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "'I have already given you my word.' distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "And your father? Did you tell him?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, mystery!" such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the that I may have something better before very many minutes are without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. I shall communicate with you." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "And how have you succeeded?" of fine shops and stately business premises that they really husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Pray continue your narrative." "He might." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow attention." forbidden door. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "No, but the enclosure is." London for the present?" into the bag, and made for the door. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "The murder was done with it." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and client, rising. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming over his head with a sweet womanly caress. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "The gentleman I describe." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's his eyes and forehead. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to call for it in person on Monday morning.' police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying beg that you will break it off." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from was keenly on my guard against him. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm to that open window." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back