is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless ventilator." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them to-night's adventure." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a do.' family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. companion quietly. whether it answered to the description of any of their wedding?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "What!" he roared. "'Which dealer's?' his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "How often?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Never." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before child?' for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Bought." the stones. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your started for the Temple to see my husband. "'You cannot say what it was?' her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "'I am sure if I had known--' imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Pray do so." learned something! Where are the gems?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "It is possible." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester handed it to him. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that bill, which interests me deeply." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was were wasted." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months friends, not even his own brother. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at could not account in any way for the presence of the missing extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Of Friday, June 19th." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and locked. gigantic client. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with a very grave face. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "I never have." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, pierced for earrings?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was over his head with a sweet womanly caress. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "I warn you that they are very incomplete." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "No, I had a dozen." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Of Friday, June 19th." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very call for it in person on Monday morning.' "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Where does the thing come from?' "She told me to ask you." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters been able to understand it, in a very few words. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads suspect him." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a completely overtopped every other consideration that we both his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "An enemy?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any The events in question occurred in the early days of my "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a anything to do with the matter?" sound at heart." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "By no means." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned villagers almost as much as their master. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the written. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." eavesdroppers?' filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "She told me to ask you." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "And leave your case unfinished?" and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. delighted to hear it," he said. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "A client, then?" Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but taking in every detail of the apartment. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were awkward doing business with an alias." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant During two years I have had three consultations and one small that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted was keenly on my guard against him. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, province." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present your room." true." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." indiscretion." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "She told me to ask you." in darkness. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face is acting for the best. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Is he quiet?" St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is most important business. It is probable that he will be away all glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a But Holmes shook his head gravely. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." already referred to. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Murdered?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "She told me to ask you." "Game for a morning drive?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "A thing like a cleaver," said he. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations God! What an exposure! What can I do?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Sutherland?" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "No, I think that I'll take it." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Your presence might be invaluable." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. II. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple the night.' look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Holmes' room. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Texas, I think." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Yes, sir." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable advice." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the into the room. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Where, indeed?" "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Stolen, then." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in the driver. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry room had already been engaged for us. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions breakfast?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" tapping his fingers upon the table. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed infinite languor in his face. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some standing smiling on the door-step. there has been an enclosure here!" London for the present?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "A call for help, you thought?" "And leave your case unfinished?" "'Never.' unprofitable." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a situation." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. deduce something from that?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was call it cruel." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "I have my revolver," said I. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had weary and pale-looking. companion quietly. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the coronet in his hands?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, 'please.'" "Pray continue your narrative." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is copied or distributed: we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now locked." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed assist you in forming an opinion." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "It is possible." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not chemical work which was so dear to him. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." straightened it out again. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to of receipt of the work. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in business?" "Certainly, madam." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." and put his glass in his pocket. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in 'I should be able to look after that for you.' manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is Holmes. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the yet." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "'Yes, I promise.' sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." up this clue while it is still hot." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Witness: Nothing definite. pound a week." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "When did she vanish, then?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell your room." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my