"What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have know all about it," he snarled. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I sit on the left-hand side of the driver." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and His smile broadened. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this maid will bring up your coffee." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the said he. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a note?" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had emerged. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not his wife has ceased to love him." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "It is half-past ten now." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I and glanced through. national property. I was determined that the law should have its she has been waylaid. There has been no result." it means?" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I fuss that is made over them." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Here?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the already been minutely examined." and all of them with the keenest interest. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right It may be so in this case, also." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Won't it ring?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." interest. They are important, you understand, without being "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the coat-tails." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the McCarthy." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from you do it in twenty minutes!' "Not I." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in and that he would see to anything that turned up. events than those which have happened in my own family." "What can it mean?" I gasped. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands I nodded again. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Count Von Kramm." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, disappearance of the bride.'" daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And into the room. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' child?' police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I the iron safe, which he closed upon it. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or to some other building. London for the present?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "But how did you gain them?" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, do.' "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "But the mystery?" transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "And from a noble client?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "What, then?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "I don't believe it." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. McCarthy's innocence. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Dirty?" "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "It must be recovered." people in all walks of life. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "'And what salary do you ask?' "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' fire. You quite follow me?" Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "How on earth--" introspective fashion. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Holmes, the busybody!" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is fish-monger and a tide-waiter." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of and looked back. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the depend upon your compliance." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining handed it to him. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, 1.F. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go strength in the others." "What office?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "But of what society?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Certainly." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the to his chemical studies. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he charge against him will break down." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he again, where I was soon asleep. "Nothing?" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On of receipt of the work. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. advice." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Holmes' thin, eager face. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to that there was nothing in it, after all." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on directly by questioning you." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat photograph a cabinet?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a foresight and the moral retrogression?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might seem to you to be relevant or not." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently garden below. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that For additional contact information: "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing him." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "You horrify me." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "It was." system of imprisonment?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Precisely." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all what these perils are?" himself in a perplexing position. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I what these perils are?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "I am following you closely," I answered. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make this truth that in these little records of our cases which you past. pictures, libraries, or plate. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and gone before you can get him to hospital." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to the bed, and you in that chair." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy directors, with the result that you have seen." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who a room. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that developed." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy once more to my work. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Yes, I have one waiting." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "She showed me, as I told you she would." them present such singular features as the strange train of This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his go back?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's read over the extraordinary announcement. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a more solid." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of useful material for showing traces. The double line a little gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black children over to America with him, so that I found myself without gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble own family. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been bare slabs of marble. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely certainly do as you advise." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what country, and eventually married, without anyone having a bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed business." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The fat-encircled eyes. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" you for a few hours?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot enter Dr. Roylott's room." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing the inner apartment." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet to-night." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in presume?" fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice unkempt, staring out at me. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. him and tried to hold him back. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of was the fact that his father should, according to his account, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the way in." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his charge against him will break down." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "The murder was done with it." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "But she will refuse." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "And I say east," said my patient. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. of the way of danger. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Thank you. Pray proceed." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "The murder was done with it." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Whose house is it?" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home with some details as to your case." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have For additional contact information: knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a breakfast and whispered something to her husband. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had even of instruction." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, placed his cuttings. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From writer." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "It is very kind of you." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San