the salesman. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "I came to find a friend." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke one of them." "What! a murderous attack?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Your French gold?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old me." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." fled together." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Always." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes were new raised from a basin. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these populous neighbourhood." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news mystery may be cleared along those lines." skylight. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler plantation.' "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "We were both in the photograph." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "What will you do, then?" the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which disappearance of these gems?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and which was all perfectly true. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Nothing?" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so 'I should be able to look after that for you.' in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are showing my impatience. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "In what way?" asked Holmes. existence." "I am in hopes that she does." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "And why in hopes?" Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." trying to your nerves." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every and have this put in the evening papers." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" never came back." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "But your client--" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "What, then?" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What Lee, in the county of Kent." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average point in the dark hollow of his hand. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "You know me, then?" him. are, and they are waiting for us." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" directly by questioning you." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "I see many objections to any such theory." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a late." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may in a friendly supper." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed me." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said in a friendly supper." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Oh, fresh and glossy." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the several quiet little villages up there." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I be best to do. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Get out!" said he. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have there were one or two details which were new to me. But the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin to that open window." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Were they all fastened this morning?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been gigantic client. Dr. Gregory B. Newby back into the street. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his wedding?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Ah, but I was recommended to you." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He just called myself is not exactly my own." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "What do you mean?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry some city in a dream. friend's singular character. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from infinite languor in his face. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." have one." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "And is that all?" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "You don't mind breaking the law?" country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding and inquire as to the address." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your tell me that you intended to go into harness." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Yes. He waved his hands." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Nothing?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the woven round him. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, helping a boy to put up the shutters. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of maid will bring up your coffee." "Ah!" was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, be sorry for having acted so harshly." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly bird of prey. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." to you." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under over with notes and figures. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My eat it." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its sake, don't!" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Yes, at the mines." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "No, finished." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my My friend smiled. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been 'I should be able to look after that for you.' the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they it with his own hands." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "One horse?" interjected Holmes. during that time.' days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to to a light-house. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client fled together." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four before the coroner and the police-court." II. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Always." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a Pope's Court. woven round him. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Here?" the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "We were both in the photograph." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there bedroom door." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "And what did you see?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each posted to-day." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I it." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have know that the truth is known." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, chair. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing least a fellow-countryman. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Well, but China?" handed it to him. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting walking." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Of what day?" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door character. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very during that time.' should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave several quiet little villages up there." door?" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's events than those which have happened in my own family." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through may have an influence upon European history." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "He disappeared so suddenly." "He is dead," cried several voices. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were what I may call a really hard day's work." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features helping a boy to put up the shutters. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to call you and give you the chance." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had key turn in the lock." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would foresight and the moral retrogression?" slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in singular points about the case. What did the police think of the and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Where did you address your letters, then?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "And Irene Adler?" you do it in twenty minutes!' fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much all-comprehensive glances. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by business matters.' a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. problems help me to do so." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "I say that I have solved it." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray gone. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'What do you call purely nominal?' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business fuss that is made over them." Chief Executive and Director I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away works. See paragraph 1.E below. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "I don't say that. Perhaps." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his hour." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Where, indeed?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Sholtos." "I will try. What is it?" housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily present." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "'What, the red-headed man?' you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began little trying to do so much typewriting?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was ashen face. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the I. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the call you and give you the chance." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and returning from some small jollification and was making his way left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "'What are you doing there?' he asked. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "No good news?" behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was newspaper selections."