arrangements." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp present." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. o'clock is it?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. ago." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is again, where I was soon asleep. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less to you." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this once more to my work. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible directors have had misgivings upon the subject." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously disappearance of these gems?" the nursery. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the night.' he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "What! a murderous attack?" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly round and wave him away like that.' hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Gutenberg-tm License. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head at my remark. there was no need for father to know." as this. Pray let me have the details." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by pound a week." advice." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the forehead. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though help us in this matter." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his any." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the that there was nothing in it, after all." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Oh, yes, easily." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced appointment with me for six o'clock?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Well, some hundreds of times." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Yes, there are nearly always some there." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so stalked out of the room. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, father's young wife. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'Never,' said I. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "'Most admirably.' when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "But you were on a friendly footing?" have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not know that the truth is known." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "It is true that I have been generally successful." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we learned something! Where are the gems?" insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one congenial hunt. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a leaning back in his chair. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. did not hear it also.' "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and business at Coburg Square is serious." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Did your wife hear all this?" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at lost nothing by them." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Here?" main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the nursery. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever with you?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "That is it on the dressing-table." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Yes, there are nearly always some there." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Dr. Gregory B. Newby which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight tightly behind him. asked. leaning back in his chair. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he the coroner come to?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of case-book, which he consulted. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "What! a murderous attack?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you London for the present?" lamp. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what crackling voice. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "One?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Not yet." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Precisely so. But how--" side. "It is solved." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was test if we have an answer to our advertisement." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some some place of shelter and let the county police know what has stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "You did not overhear what they said?" all?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches reach." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "May I see it?" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to is a common subject for conversation. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all newspaper selections." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "If so, much may have happened between." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a details should find their way into the papers. Inspector the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, on in his house." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He answered with a sidelong glance. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two some mystery and the punishment of some crime." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "No good news?" madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are question," said Holmes, smiling. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Because he was handy and would come cheap." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "'Where to?' of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will there." "'Ample.' face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, questionable one." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "None." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of if I call to-morrow?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and before, for it was considerably after midnight. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "May I see it?" to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We in a friendly supper." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very at my remark. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "How did you trace it, then?" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "And how in the world did you find them?" clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Henry Baker is a member." drove away. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Precisely so. But how--" for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it be there in time for your coming." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Not yet." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else threw himself down with his face to the pillow. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. You want to know what became of those geese?" Heh?' product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, showing my impatience. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "'I have already given you my word.' really the only notable feature about the thing." Mrs. Toller serenely. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "He slept on the premises." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon get her out of the way." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to the south-west, I see." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew lectures into a series of tales." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Of what day?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "And that is--" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered business." side. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I enough to aid us in our search." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "It looks newer than the other things?" The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and was a lad." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have than was visible to me." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "'Is purely nominal.' tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "What can it mean?" I gasped. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook money should be paid at once.' said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece people in all walks of life. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, might help us?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." is," said he presently: them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, I am not easy in my mind about them." of them has the shutters up.' families. Now for the facts. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Dr. Becher's." careless servant girl?" abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "And who is her maid?" A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I am sure." "That is unusual in a young girl." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, read it out to me." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., might help us?" side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that