solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were at home. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and wedding?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from thin legs towards the fire. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "'Ten to two.' Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the furiously. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. I. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts fait accompli?" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "It must be recovered." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "But it has twice been burgled." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. standing smiling on the door-step. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "A thing like a cleaver," said he. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a opportunities to fix the problem. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which of." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her union?" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since to surprise her." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "And when will you call?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was way: We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "That is easily got." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." of Mr. Rucastle's." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to States. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and behind me. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Pray let us have it, for all that." problems help me to do so." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite them present such singular features as the strange train of "No sign of it?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Well?" During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and confronted him. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of murdered man." Gutenberg-tm License. "I say that I have solved it." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the such person." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "At half-wages, in fact." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a his forehead." "At the wedding breakfast." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I saw her in conversation with her maid." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "You have the photograph?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble outsides of the windows. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other name is different." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "But who is he?" Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very paper in the air. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "'Not at all. I only doubt--' brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring feature." looking up at the numbers of the houses." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set sake, don't!" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the village inn over there?" future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "'You doubt its value?' he asked. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, annoyance, but no jest. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "None." the matter." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. constraint." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "An enemy?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low foresight and the moral retrogression?" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could where we are going." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. your own bird, so if you wish--" not as remarkable as your advertisement." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." Clair, of Lee." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Stoke Moran." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always so.' his grey eyes. "It is possible." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase was not a bird to be seen there. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the asked with his eyes open. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind everything which you would wish to know." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the affair. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident room. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "And you can do nothing until then?" left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the side-table." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Frequently." with some details as to your case." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are that I may have something better before very many minutes are "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'And the work?' "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "You don't mind breaking the law?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Quite so." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss presume?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day but preventing her from injuring another. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in particular state visit http://pglaf.org the very morning of the wedding." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Dr. Becher's." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us once more on the important position which you have been fortunate was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "I have come for advice." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until never came back." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set and have this put in the evening papers." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "'Yes.' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried nights." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so a suggestive one." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, License. You must require such a user to return or considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Eyford at 11:15.' "You'll never persuade me to believe that." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "But I am all in the dark." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Have you it here?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Why did you beat the pavement?" parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "'Not at all. I only doubt--' voice. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my read it out to me." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in be sorry for having acted so harshly." and I shall be with you presently." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable have been better. It is all right." him." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our speckled band?" the tragedy. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of are windows in it, of course?" to take care of herself." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The relief. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "The vanishing of the lady." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, writers could invent nothing more crude." "Come in!" said he. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he acquaintance?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "What! Had he lost his wife?" correct than the official force." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a to his chemical studies. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Will you go?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Perfectly so." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Yes. He waved his hands." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "One of his hands." charged with?" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. the warnings." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "And how have you succeeded?" places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that writing, and yet I know it well." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "It surprised me." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "I cannot think." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small gone. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the to me. address. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Holmes' thin, eager face. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "And why?" "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "That is easily got." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried I nodded to show that I had heard. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I careless servant girl?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in for securing the situation." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set fire. You quite follow me?" until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "I see no marks." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, back alive. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the best of training." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I cannot as yet see any connection." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very these bleak autumnal evenings." "How did he come?" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I think that I had better go, Holmes." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "What have you done?" asked Holmes. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm important." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Why, what do you mean?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'Entirely.' "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "I will not look." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." father's young wife. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham I am not easy in my mind about them." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass