"Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Watson," he said cordially. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I writer." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a been." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "9th. McCauley cleared. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six bears upon the case?" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' words came to my lips. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn stepfather?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "I cannot imagine." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to distinguish the words: "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it one else, I think." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Here?" that I may have something better before very many minutes are adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "No, I think that I'll take it." "You forget that I know nothing about it." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Arthur Conan Doyle possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw down. Holmes' thin, eager face. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, companion. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could ways of our fellow-men." wife's character?" Street. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "In answer to an advertisement." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Well, it is a possible supposition." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "'And what salary do you ask?' father's young wife. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "And your mother is alive?" speckled band?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite that the gas is not laid on in his house?" before the coroner and the police-court." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety you." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we mysterious end." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Married! When?" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their my friend's incisive reasoning. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Pope's Court. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Will you bet, then?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "'How far from the body?' surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. whereabouts. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the to tackle the facts." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted salesman. British peeress.'" submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "I will try. What is it?" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." believe that I should never have any practice at all. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from lumber-room." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." passage and a tap at the door. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked just ask you whether you had heard it.' husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in Farm upon the left." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, swore that no one else had been in the front room during the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "I see no marks." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just round with crates and massive boxes. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune and a shock of very red hair. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without meant." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our your equipment. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last was shining brightly. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may someone who had been in Australia." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable meant it for the best. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman unprofitable." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece passage and a tap at the door. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, in one or two places in England?' unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who question you as to those details which seem to me to be most He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of entirely devoid of interest." little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "So it appears." to-night?" I asked. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Then I shall certainly come." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred not within a twentieth part of the market price." gone before you can get him to hospital." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Yes, I have one waiting." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say II. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her figure." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "What do you mean?" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" ashen face. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who he died? half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Precisely." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the residence of the great financier. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue nothing of it?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a arrangements." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you soul! here is her carriage at the door." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable carried out of court." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Witness: I must still refuse. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Absolutely none." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Was she in good spirits?" of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I the tragedy. "It's nothing of the kind." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which second window is the one that I jumped from." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with prison!" space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was round and wave him away like that.' points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "By no means." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in said he. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who arrangements." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "'Never.' strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Yes." Stoke Moran." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "He said too much." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid weighed down with some great anxiety. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which strong and stiff." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he thin legs towards the fire. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which he bowed and left the room without another word. "I shall most certainly do so." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said with you alone." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" I approached. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, stalked out of the room. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even ordinary clothes on?" tied." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "And Miss Sutherland?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so arrested. You then--" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "This concluded the examination of the witness." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Perfectly so." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the humiliation." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done without success. At last the little money which I had saved began no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "He might." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "No." were unconscious?" "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the gbnewby@pglaf.org There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they opened the door, and slipped through. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office brought there to personate someone, and the real person is observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Then I can wait in the next room." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see humiliation." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "'Yes, sir.' in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in said he. in the hope of finding them." "Yesterday." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, be best to do. purpose equally well?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "I don't say that. Perhaps." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "What shall I do?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether with some details as to your case." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should learned something! Where are the gems?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "No?" value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "I don't say that. Perhaps." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the was a lad." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you a good hundred miles off by now." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Then I shall certainly come." "Which are?" knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning bonnet, and went out." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone