watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "You have carte blanche." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you breakfast and whispered something to her husband. his forehead." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off three fields round his house, and there he would take his had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions upon the white wrist. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a the matter." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "I think that it is very probable." of campaign. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "But what is it you wish?" nothing of it?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with answered with a sidelong glance. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the highly," said Holmes. "There are none." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "How did he come?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Yes." "And now?" He raised his hand. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "What then?" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist way in." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that I have it here in my museum." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." bearing upon the case." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "You have a clue?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'Certainly not. But why?' I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward will be renamed. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite a good hundred miles off by now." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which this man was intellectual?" "What then?" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had bore every mark of being an average commonplace British spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the stones. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "But his left-handedness." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day present." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked congratulate you again." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I there!' just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and cigars in their mouths. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the already been minutely examined." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "A call for help, you thought?" "Nothing." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case have one." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "To the police?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "But his left-handedness." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence characteristics, but those are the more obvious." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "I see no marks." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned drawing your inferences." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Here?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set likely to be some crony of the landlady's." mystery!" prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and in this note: I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. I think that I could be of assistance to you." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the the child." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "It looks newer than the other things?" is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from that you saw all that I did." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from Pope's Court, Fleet Street." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? whereabouts. distinguish the words: while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not to-night." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "One horse?" interjected Holmes. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Yes." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "I have solved it." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery easy-going way." soul! here is her carriage at the door." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Holmes rather sternly. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "I was mad--insane." come either from the window or the door. My attention was could go. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle wedding?" careless servant girl?" Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" away to you." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester these bleak autumnal evenings." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her newspaper selections." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' correct than the official force." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to Holmes rather sternly. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "The King of Scandinavia." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." envelope. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, was already answered. Sutherland?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "I don't believe it." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "My Mary? Impossible!" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. grasp, he hurried from the room. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "What! Had he lost his wife?" "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay room?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Because he was handy and would come cheap." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "And help." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he to his chemical studies. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms a little more before I quite committed myself. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a which we had just quitted. with you alone." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I before, for it was considerably after midnight. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you main points of my analysis." read it out to me." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will The King stared at him in amazement. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." she used." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible own family. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "How often?" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that nothing of it?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "I was mad--insane." invisible to me," I remarked. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have there!' could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and least a fellow-countryman. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a The summons was a brief and urgent one. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing in the hope of finding them." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope it? Did I buy the geese off you?" like gravel from a pit.' "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should direction." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "There is the writing." one of them." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." notes," he said. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "I have seen the police." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "But your client--" approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a grasp, he hurried from the room. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue Cross for the Continent." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. do.' "I know where it is." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. go from here to the Strand." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "And how did you verify them?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." closing the door. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "'As governess?' the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, purpose equally well?" open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "That sounds a little paradoxical." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of fattened it expressly for you.' cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." he bowed and left the room without another word. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "'Yes, I promise.' The King stared at him in amazement. and the colonel ushered me in. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when notes," he said. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Perhaps we may make them less so." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "One of the highest in England." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "'A dozen yards or so.' "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Nothing?" in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Stoke Moran?" said he. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging details should find their way into the papers. Inspector upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved friend's singular character. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as written, and locked the door of the office after me. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. to me. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "'What then?' I asked. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his written. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the date of his supposed suicide." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "A confidential servant?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so very morning of my second wedding." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided joking. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "No?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Your French gold?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as foot. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Quite so. She has her freedom." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my