to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with sooner or later she must fall a victim. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the stones. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" whether it answered to the description of any of their "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress asked. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an constraint." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of charged with?" possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid as noiselessly as she had come. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just out of this horrible affair." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the he died? moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a was a loud and authoritative tap. "VIOLET HUNTER." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "From his hat?" back into the street. mysterious end." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "It missed him, then?" "And you can do nothing until then?" gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony any little problem which you may submit to me." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "My dear Holmes!" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Did you become engaged then?" Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing may have an influence upon European history." system of imprisonment?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," south, for the country is more deserted there." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. experiences." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official case before our client came into the room." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with friends, not even his own brother. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a correct than the official force." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came What do you deduce from it?" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which is," said he presently: perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "'Tell me all about it,' said I. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "'Ten to two.' (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for humiliation." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "On Monday." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the tear off another piece?' after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "What will you say?" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Where did you address your letters, then?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "'How far from the body?' treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke go back?" deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as him nearly every evening." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' cigars in their mouths. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? instincts rose up against that laugh. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the said he. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the so-precious time, but come!' ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "By no means." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "But who is he?" have accepted such a situation. "Nothing?" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'Never,' said I. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if tell me that you intended to go into harness." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and long narrative. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Stolen, then." what I may call a really hard day's work." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" read it out to me." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and it need not interfere very much with one's other stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, have accepted such a situation. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Eyford." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "You have carte blanche." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even awaited us upon the table. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled forecastle of an emigrant ship. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of bill, which interests me deeply." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "My Mary? Impossible!" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is there were one or two details which were new to me. But the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the heavily into it. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. me upon any point which I do not make clear." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. here." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready goes." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest at my own good fortune. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here upon the sideboard." how narrow had been my escape. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should from the brougham. footfalls from the street. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your present." had a long day." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "I would give my fortune to have them back." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how that I can to serve you." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "And how?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "It was." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I keep the flames under. For additional contact information: copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as reach." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus despaired of." there!' vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Why did you pick him?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? despaired of." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "You heard nothing yourself last night?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his your bag." little adventures." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" clanging. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "'As governess?' understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing Count Von Kramm." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned absolutely follow my advice in every respect." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the that I can to serve you." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both McCarthy's innocence. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "But you would not advise me to refuse?" occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits quite distinctive." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his long narrative. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Yes." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The way: "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "But to whom?" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw Countess of Morcar's?" "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Surrey." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of himself in a perplexing position. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." straightened it out again. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Quite so." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so up this clue while it is still hot." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this did not hear it also.' explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of to-morrow." "'Entirely.' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows himself in a perplexing position. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid coat-tails." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "I came to find a friend." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for points to suicide?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a companion. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt already referred to. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked over with notes and figures. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? Sholtos." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project murdered man." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the point in the dark hollow of his hand. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Nothing?" "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Lestrade of Scotland Yard." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing thought that she would have been so carried away." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "I see many objections to any such theory." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another child?' aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you look upon these things in a different way." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the warnings." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." held up the lantern and gazed about him. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding as noiselessly as she had come. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and This is what he says: my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face