confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "No, my brougham is waiting." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Which are?" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Your presence might be invaluable." "Yes." despaired of." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Why serious?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have might help us?" ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Thank you. Pray proceed." 'please.'" II. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was problems help me to do so." joking. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two maid will bring up your coffee." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the father's place of business?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over the inner apartment." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at conclusions. status with the IRS. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Could he throw no light?" the tragedy. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Thank you. And your address?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my certainly not very gracious." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, that you wished to speak to me?' society." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "He is still with you, I presume?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be case-book, which he consulted. "The landlord of the Alpha." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while their singular warning or token before them when starting upon also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally several quiet little villages up there." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "You are all wrong." "'Very good.' "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important and all of them with the keenest interest. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "'What do you call purely nominal?' correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "And that is--" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his dates and names. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Breckinridge is his name." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "I cannot imagine." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, promised to bring home. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their prove to be little relation between the different incidents of I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour night.' said he. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Of Friday, June 19th." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "On Monday." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a yourselves in at night?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Very murderous indeed." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I the coroner come to?" sake, don't!" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "What is it?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "He said too much." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out these bleak autumnal evenings." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near eavesdroppers?' success. tell them apart.' the morning and make my own way in the world.' three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Of what day?" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" hour?' the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Thank you. Pray proceed." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "My own seal." companion. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine tail." "In heaven's name, what for?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Yes." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I fled together." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Henry Baker is a member." "You will not go there first?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his strong and stiff." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "What can you not understand?" would then never go into court at all." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "You are certainly joking, Holmes." floor. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "And I." man. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat do.' "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Where did you address your letters, then?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. one else, I think." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Nothing." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Certainly, madam." your only hope of safety." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "ARAT," I read. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "'No, I know no one in these parts.' more terrible than the truth. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To she used." "Never." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which get her out of the way." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some advice." "It certainly sounds feasible." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "I will get her to show me." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel standing smiling on the door-step. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated hard-headed British jury." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "But what will you do?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! pity, because in other respects you would really have done very one's self under obligations.' spare." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "My dear Holmes!" provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "No sign of it?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. presume?" fishes. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant murdered man." "It is possible." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I cannot say that I have." "Game for a morning drive?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp photograph?" paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "'Is purely nominal.' are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Witness: It was. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads unprofitable." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "I do." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock carried out of court." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' depend upon my doing so.' where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to the iron safe, which he closed upon it. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white and that he would see to anything that turned up. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I fish-monger and a tide-waiter." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the mystery!" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently once more. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "And now?" I asked. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "But not more so than I to find you." "Yes, all." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "That is also quite modern," said the lady. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Proceed, then." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing gone. matter." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "You horrify me!" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets giving me time to thank him. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. and your relations to her." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the open." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into begin with, and I had not got mine yet." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Get out!" said he. business at Coburg Square is serious." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "I am about to be married." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce at home. "It is solved." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the bare slabs of marble. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not taking in every detail of the apartment. "I am in hopes that she does." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Why? What do you mean?" lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "What steps will you take?" I asked. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "From his hat?" grasp, he hurried from the room. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "Proceed, then." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a himself to tell his story. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit be best to do. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." again on its way. "What will you do, then?" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous clang of the bell. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down through." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and absolutely follow my advice in every respect." to have that photograph." "And what did you see?" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Yes. He waved his hands." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." outbreak?" four million human beings all jostling each other within the the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over that threaten you." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I warn you that they are very incomplete." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Leave Paddington by the 11:15." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon