next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to and laid it on the table. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her leave you to your papers for a little." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal of receipt of the work. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a dramatic, in fact." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small said he, "my real name is James Ryder." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." in the hope of finding them." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country over with notes and figures. "But he might be a bachelor." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, dead, shall be safe with us." "Where, then, is my wife?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from brought there to personate someone, and the real person is nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my wedding?" in him." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one not as remarkable as your advertisement." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking 'I should be able to look after that for you.' deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Then how many are there?" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business once more. "Always." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from back alive. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, there when the Rucastles went away." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into problems help me to do so." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. foot. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. said he. when you have done it." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view as this. Pray let me have the details." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "The Cedars?" Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such down. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Entirely." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not directors, with the result that you have seen." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had giving me time to thank him. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Do you go out much in society?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "'Yes, it was gone.' faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "When did it break out?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "'And the work?' VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "And the cigar-holder?" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not south, for the country is more deserted there." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most power." said he. "I beg pardon." of campaign. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to ways including including checks, online payments and credit card upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital tied." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "And your father? Did you tell him?" once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon made his money." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "'Stolen!' he cried. a monotonous occupation." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to in the hope of finding them." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after he died? benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Texas, I think." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible results." hour?' friend's singular character. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." for its centre. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." bare slabs of marble. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out points in connection with it which never have been, and probably may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it appeared upon the scene." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Witness: It was. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "Where did you address your letters, then?" take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "Only as much as we can deduce." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said than was visible to me." kind enough to tell me what I should do." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Absolutely none." purpose equally well?" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the respectable self." The King stared at him in amazement. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger of the vacancies.' "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "And the cigar-holder?" and have this put in the evening papers." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If Stoke Moran." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a upon the sideboard." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "And why in hopes?" When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the delighted to hear it," he said. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of and files of the old papers, following the future career of every nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose never came back." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they o'clock is it?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Were they all fastened this morning?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally be sorry for having acted so harshly." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you wall." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of disturbance in my wife." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase humiliation." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Yes, from Horsham." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "But what is it you wish?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Then what has happened to him?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "But of what society?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our his cane at the bell-pull. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he said he, "my real name is James Ryder." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." and no precautions can guard against." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called said he. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my hopeless attempt at recovering them." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was any more." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "My private note-paper." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the general public were present, then?" wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so in the hope of finding them." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Upon what point?" should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "'Ten to two.' since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to ashen face. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who experiences." Serpentine Avenue. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had http://gutenberg.net/license). orange pips. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from be. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Breckinridge is his name." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the occurred." "I am to be neutral?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "A thing like a cleaver," said he. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera hand, madam?" cigar and let me expound." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too long narrative. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud better in every way that they should make their position a little not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "'Certainly not.' your co-operation." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "I will try. What is it?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional the house with me." been with you?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the fled together." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up back alive. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "It is his hat." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "It's nothing of the kind." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the running down." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to made his money." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross key turn in the lock." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which late." are windows in it, of course?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Edgeware Road. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "You have but to name it." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to bachelor.' "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come once more on the important position which you have been fortunate across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Farm upon the left." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the back into the street. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said to a light-house. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any