the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you point our research must commence, and we will begin it by from the brougham. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." secret." You want to know what became of those geese?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich answered with a sidelong glance. Holmes' room. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "One of his hands." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his fire. You quite follow me?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. British peeress.'" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her suddenly upon us." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Upon what point?" eat it." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who I am not easy in my mind about them." fishes. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. opened the door, and slipped through. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day congratulate you again." of a light. "Yes." at a side door. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is against a man in the prime of life?" "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "You saw the ventilator, too?" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "And who is her maid?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "At the wedding breakfast." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and until night should bring an explanation. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. you." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out security.' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There take the flies, but not before." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." ashen face. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" comes from the middle window." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I this remarkable episode. "It is his hat." him to go away.' my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Again Holmes raved in the air. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "What have you done?" asked Holmes. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Then, as to money?" determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the points to suicide?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small test if we have an answer to our advertisement." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had the matter?" cheerful." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Ah!" the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across the ceiling. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a in his power. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some lids now and glanced across at his visitor. in him." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the for its centre. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Certainly, madam." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "That's no good." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "At what time?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "And is that all?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Of Friday, June 19th." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to me. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "'A dozen yards or so.' over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "'Yes, it was gone.' "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life been shamefully used." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "'What are you doing there?' he asked. awaited us upon the table. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Pray do so." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal national property. I was determined that the law should have its evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "What can you not understand?" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did memory. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, extraordinary contortions. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." call for it in person on Monday morning.' nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, some terrible trap for her." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was meant it for the best. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Your French gold?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "I cannot as yet see any connection." little trying to do so much typewriting?" which it had come upon my father." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "He is dead," cried several voices. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by papers." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Her father is very rich?" however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he my room." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "None." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Yes." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "And Irene Adler?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was were wasted." answer." persecution?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. events, Mr. Windibank!" the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Yes, that is the Crown." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been his huge brown hands. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "'Is purely nominal.' at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. of campaign. the King without delay." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously ourselves in the office." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at has little to do with my story." a very grave face. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a been anything against him. He had for years been known as a looking up at the numbers of the houses." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen asked. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to indiscretion." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some useful material for showing traces. The double line a little companion. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Where does the thing come from?' was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of said I. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Your sister is dead, then?" "I guessed as much." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "No." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well said I. your bag." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of closing the door. rooms." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "But how will you look?" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Was he the only applicant?" whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Certainly." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "I have come for advice." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in them?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her carriage. It was a chestnut." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine all that?" by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be meant it for the best. open." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of crackling voice. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a writer." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be have got?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain developed." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. some terrible trap for her." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their fuss that is made over them." "I am following you closely," I answered. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "You are hungry," I remarked. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "I never have." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little the loss of it. written, and locked the door of the office after me. any more." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "'I have already given you my word.' carriage. It was a chestnut." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared with you?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "'Oh, no.' material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain again on its way. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite he died? which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," it right.' arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes the nursery. DAMAGE. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable problems help me to do so." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point here." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. friend's singular character. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it my secret was safe in his possession. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that along the entire front of the house, with three long windows plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits of Mr. Rucastle's." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring."