and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Pray do so." Eyford at 11:15.' "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Always." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman views." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another derbies." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, taking in every detail of the apartment. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "I see many objections to any such theory." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "'Stolen!' he cried. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "And the cigar-holder?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to intrusion of other matters." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he forecastle of an emigrant ship. "That is it on the dressing-table." "He said that you could solve anything." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "No." death." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known without success. At last the little money which I had saved began address. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had right! Sit down and let us talk it over." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a foot. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is thin legs towards the fire. "It surprised me." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version investigation." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Then I shall certainly come." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," in the hope of finding them." "It came here." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows that threaten you." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. gone before you can get him to hospital." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. conclusions. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed directors, with the result that you have seen." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "No." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains locked." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his and that he would see to anything that turned up. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the the loss of it. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Yes." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "'And the work?' dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very arrangements." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "I was afraid that you were engaged." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural Holmes." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put daring than any effort of the imagination." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with fact, we may call it conclusive." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" back into the street. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "It's nothing of the kind." "I was sure that I might rely on you." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Whose house is it?" gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my opened the door, and slipped through. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can your troubles." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "My own seal." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see of his shoulders. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped there when the Rucastles went away." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped spare." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Well, but China?" dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told to his chemical studies. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. walking." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock crackling voice. occurred." you for a few hours?" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third the nursery. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took o'clock is it?" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, have been better. It is all right." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Very. But will he see it?" Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been bird I ate is country bred." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more nonsense.' "But your client--" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "It surprised me." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "You will not go there first?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and away to you." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with information in his hands the value of which he did not himself blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "'Certainly,' I answered. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the King without delay." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "I warn you that they are very incomplete." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Yes." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. was a lad." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Not yet." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to new acquaintance to Baker Street. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help delighted to hear it," he said. London for the present?" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days lost nothing by them." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the carriage. It was a chestnut." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The down. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still sparkled upon his finger. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "No?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just results." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "An enemy?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons bed dies. Does not that strike you?" The King stared at him in amazement. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium read over the extraordinary announcement. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "What steps will you take?" I asked. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "'And the work?' bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies out of this horrible affair." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Do you go out much in society?" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Very murderous indeed." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "'In my own bureau.' "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search lids now and glanced across at his visitor. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of to tell." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so of his shoulders. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "He is dead," cried several voices. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, shaken than I had ever seen him. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was not within a twentieth part of the market price." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project long narrative. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to child?' you?" down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with late!' question. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Which surely he restored to their owner?" silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" I nodded again. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and will he say when he returns?" than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving you do it in twenty minutes!' material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by father's place of business?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass people don't know." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon next day. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in to that open window." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "What shall I do?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Where to?" nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very threw himself down with his face to the pillow. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it Gutenberg-tm License. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. quick march!" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his