I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Where, then, is my wife?" building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love upon an income of about 60 pounds." there in twenty minutes." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Never to return." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Heh?' Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "You were travelling in the States?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in spark where all is dark to me." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured shag which I had seen upon the previous night. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled house for five minutes.' disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of as noiselessly as she had come. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "And I say east," said my patient. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the I am not easy in my mind about them." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, matters immensely." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we the nursery. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "What do you make of that, Watson?" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "I will get her to show me." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an hands. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Proceed, then." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every gone. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have into her hand at the door and which lured her within their itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "And from a noble client?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, some water from a caraffe. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and back alive. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "It is his hat." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the as this. Pray let me have the details." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the over here." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "And the cigar-holder?" it were putty." "And your mother is alive?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young me where it went to?" that threaten you." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something prisoner's face. key turn in the lock." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "No." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Seven!" I answered. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can man. I know him from the photograph." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "'In my own bureau.' "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." I leave." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since lumber-room." to-night?' have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's way: from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little better in every way that they should make their position a little "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the lost his Christmas dinner." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the is a common subject for conversation. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a that, and I came down." and the whole place is in a blaze." "I have seen the police." you, my dear young lady?' chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking key of the affair now." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and discontent upon his features. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this sake, don't!" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant at once, for I have only half an hour." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. client, rising. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges been shamefully used." "Very murderous indeed." "Can I be of assistance?" "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over ways including including checks, online payments and credit card there were so many in the whole country as were brought together simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a What do you deduce from it?" least a most suspicious remark." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and him to go away.' drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in visitors." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was examine." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Dirty?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question was a loud and authoritative tap. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its away in different directions, and I went off to make my own for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be went to the Alpha were town bred." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey wall." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "My own seal." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "I have come for advice." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and discontent upon his features. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute presented more singular features than that which was associated present." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips this poor creature." name is different." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their golden eyeglasses. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you cost them two and thirty pounds." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in orange pips. taking in every detail of the apartment. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down your Highness to the police-station?" "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "I came to find a friend." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you photograph a cabinet?" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "And Irene Adler?" "I have come for advice." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could from you?" felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I assure you that I am in your hands." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." least a most suspicious remark." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers sufficient punishment." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the voice. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close prisoner's face. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive there were so many in the whole country as were brought together mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "You horrify me!" could not account in any way for the presence of the missing The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and past. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. discontent upon his features. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Do you go out much in society?" chill to my heart. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "And how in the world did you find them?" My friend smiled. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my taking in every detail of the apartment. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "What do you mean?" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "If I can be of use." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic leave you to your papers for a little." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. asked. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord the loss of it. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, one of them." strode off upon his way. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since was not a bird to be seen there. his knees, staring into the fire. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and it? Did I buy the geese off you?" constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with arrested. You then--" the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "What have you to say now?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "We have tried and failed." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is the inquest, and which are worth considering." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is as this. Pray let me have the details." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might feature." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and ways of our fellow-men." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources you?" Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a letters?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Edgeware Road. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Then you may be so with me." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. certainly not very gracious." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the people in all walks of life. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "There are none." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a chemical work which was so dear to him. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were fled together." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean lamp. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "'Then let me do so?' she used." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce strength in the others." kindly on the shoulder. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and late!' prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Where to?" "'Certainly,' I answered. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "It is to him that this trophy belongs." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the This is what he says: I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I most important business. It is probable that he will be away all