I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter have had none more fantastic than this." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole enter into my head. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy and the colonel ushered me in. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Of what?" dear old homesteads?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and here." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. that you saw all that I did." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but room. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the had picked up in the wood. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for to go into your room and bar your shutters?" dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "When did it break out?" any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Not social, then?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. call you and give you the chance." "What office?" and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of there when the Rucastles went away." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND before, for it was considerably after midnight. the running down." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore papers diligently of late, have you not?" parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this any more." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we that you wished to speak to me?' that threaten you." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "And help." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A you for a few hours?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. morning." "But what is it you wish?" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "None." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "But it has twice been burgled." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "No sign of it?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "At what time?" metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and is worth.' from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them over with notes and figures. "VIOLET HUNTER." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the heavily into it. the stones. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be presume?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER chill to my heart. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Doctor, of the paper and the date." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "To the police?" acquaintance?" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "By train from Waterloo." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" she used." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. so far?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, are, and they are waiting for us." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on it." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "The murder was done with it." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the said I. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, assist you in forming an opinion." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'And the work?' leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We some terrible trap for her." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" McCarthy's innocence. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the iron safe, which he closed upon it. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "I have come for advice." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted fled together." been deceived." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of bell. Holmes whistled. be. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the to surprise her." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "'What do you call purely nominal?' that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one business came to an end." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, always that they were such commands as a lady might with with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked things are very often connected not with the larger but with the every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so more solid." "You horrify me." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which quite distinctive." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. annoyance, but no jest. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his purpose equally well?" low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away interest. They are important, you understand, without being I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a to a light-house. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining gone. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "In which, sir?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "I fear not." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "And the cigar-holder?" "It is his hat." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "No." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Always." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was this as likely?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a of this gang." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Where to?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" coroner's jury." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' and no precautions can guard against." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "'Tell me all about it,' said I. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "No bad?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, upon the shelf for the interim." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "No." your co-operation." "'Where to?' part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "But he might be a bachelor." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "The knees of his trousers." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them father's place of business?" outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to your own bird, so if you wish--" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Very much so." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "By no means." "Very truly yours, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. himself in a perplexing position. to have been novel and of interest." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "But what is it you wish?" fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "What, then?" slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, that I am arrested." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he upon the shelf for the interim." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Never to return." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." said he. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken Eyford at 11:15.' comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll new acquaintance to Baker Street. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have to you." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of are, I think, all that we need." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was orange pips. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her that he has suffered." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much matter over." lost nothing by them." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Not particularly." the matter." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." unkempt, staring out at me. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady in the port of London." "Witness: It was. "But the mystery?" when your master had gone out." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "And why?" "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Stoke Moran." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through happened." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be there has been an enclosure here!" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the murdered man." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of this remarkable episode. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, forbidden door. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "I will not look." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in events than those which have happened in my own family." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "My last client of the sort was a king." "Nothing?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "But not more so than I to find you." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of papers diligently of late, have you not?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "The gentleman I describe." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no bore every mark of being an average commonplace British search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "What shall I do?" "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled populous neighbourhood." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that miles off. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a since then to throw any light upon what became of him." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Very murderous indeed." respectable self." round with crates and massive boxes. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town