resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may chambers. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the The summons was a brief and urgent one. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." important." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old wedding?" "I came to find a friend." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together before the coroner and the police-court." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, had formerly been in part my own. union?" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything hands. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever the so-precious time, but come!' distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources once more. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to you." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Munro.' think, you have already met." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." least a most suspicious remark." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to quickly through a disagreeable task. again before evening." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Witness: I must still refuse. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the danger is over." "But I have heard all that you have heard." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love better in every way that they should make their position a little something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether to you." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." his cane at the bell-pull. morning." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them back alive. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which them?" "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of shoulder; "he's all right." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney of it with the greatest attention. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Street. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "What, then?" the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Then I shall certainly come." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones wanted for ourselves." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. key of the affair now." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," purpose equally well?" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a feature." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. wanted for ourselves." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning you?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "'What would be the hours?' I asked. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in was a perfect sample of the class. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Well, some hundreds of times." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" this remarkable episode. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Certainly." article?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "And why?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual himself to hunt down. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "What! a murderous attack?" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his present." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him at my own good fortune. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom Where does the thing come from?' drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "I think it very unlikely." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were cigars in their mouths. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, spare." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "No legal papers or certificates?" foot. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "By all means." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate galvanised. "What! a murderous attack?" fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it I was concerned in it." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the article?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in up this clue while it is still hot." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then their singular warning or token before them when starting upon side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the had this final quarrel? a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "By train from Waterloo." http://gutenberg.net/license). you in your example." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "I shall most certainly do so." questionable one." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot papers must be those that are destroyed.' "And is that all?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "'Where could I find him?' "Then I shall certainly come." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about believe that I should never have any practice at all. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not be. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush quickly through a disagreeable task. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "One horse?" interjected Holmes. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in business at Coburg Square is serious." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties certainly not very gracious." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when cost them two and thirty pounds." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a matters immensely." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "No sign of it?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal writers could invent nothing more crude." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "And I." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "And that is--" entirely lost his self-respect." foresight and the moral retrogression?" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both brain must have something in it." tightly behind him. results." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so minor matters until to-morrow." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over electronic works off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this lost his Christmas dinner." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, character. power." "Yes, I have one waiting." "'Ample.' that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs just ask you whether you had heard it.' room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you shaken than I had ever seen him. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "I should wish to." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to of the one which your family is now devouring." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. would apply.' "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your definite end. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Tired-looking or fresh?" his knees, staring into the fire. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You here." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "What do you mean?" own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is for its centre. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND who was a member of your goose club." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention late." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "'Most admirably.' half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking window when the police appeared." "Pray do so." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "That was it, sir." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest Street. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall thought that she would have been so carried away." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who status with the IRS. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Literary Archive Foundation on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "But what will you do?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its most important business. It is probable that he will be away all learned something! Where are the gems?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in it." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. have had none more fantastic than this." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is I shall communicate with you." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of furiously. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been or other trace. But how on earth--" "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there hereditary King of Bohemia." be sorry for having acted so harshly." "I promise," said Holmes. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall be best to do. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "What! Had he lost his wife?" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "It was." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "And how did you verify them?" error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to him. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when all that?" some water from a caraffe. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "10th. John Swain cleared. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying be sorry for having acted so harshly." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached touch that coronet?' despaired of." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you where she found matters as described by the last witness. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever