that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Yes, there are nearly always some there." one else, I think." "'Where could I find him?' undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "You saw the ventilator, too?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "And leave your case unfinished?" once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which orange pips. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have have an American origin." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "The Coroner: What do you mean? grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for be. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "'Where could I find him?' fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down Leadenhall Street--and--" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her his cane at the bell-pull. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' matters immensely." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my points in connection with it which never have been, and probably used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural the roots. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly been lifted and conveyed somewhere." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my children over to America with him, so that I found myself without new acquaintance to Baker Street. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded to take care of herself." said he. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my one of them." "Why did you pick him?" page at http://pglaf.org seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "In which, sir?" thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, to talk it over. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Nothing?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Not him." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" politicians who had been sent down from the North. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be desk. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he not personally threatened." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with question you as to those details which seem to me to be most sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Never." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." present." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of fait accompli?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew front of me. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. business matters.' great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was everything which you would wish to know." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' of it with the greatest attention. "His face fell immediately. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Ten will be early enough." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "'Which dealer's?' bears upon the case?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you humiliation." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "That sounds a little paradoxical." like that before?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "But what will you do?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Two days later this same performance was gone through under same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I his huge brown hands. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Not him." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one read it out to me." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "We have tried and failed." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." bare slabs of marble. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Then I shall certainly come." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he and your relations to her." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." McCarthy." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss tassel actually lying upon the pillow. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "What then?" quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." could not have written that. It is the German who is so hour." away into the river." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" letters?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Where to?" could go. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn highroad, where all traces were lost. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which main points of my analysis." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much train from Paddington which would bring you there at about It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through chair. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a done what I asked you, Jones?" "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Very. But will he see it?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but 1.F. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "I was mad--insane." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' http://www.gutenberg.net be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, III. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, new duties?' "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or do you make of it all?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the matter." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the me." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'A dozen yards or so.' again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and my friend's incisive reasoning. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, weighed down with some great anxiety. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock events, Mr. Windibank!" "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "I don't say that. Perhaps." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to money should be paid at once.' actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "How did you trace it, then?" "I have a cab outside." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them drove away. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, developed." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. said I. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can tell me that you intended to go into harness." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first you?' to-night's adventure." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his business in the City. She little knew what. "Won't it ring?" veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner you give your casting vote to?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "I shall most certainly do so." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "It is half-past ten now." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew Mrs. Toller serenely. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I will not look." intrusion of other matters." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "And what did you learn from him?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would that to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "That's no good." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a through." assist you in forming an opinion." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to you?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, there has been an enclosure here!" "What! Had he lost his wife?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "I would give my fortune to have them back." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "I will try. What is it?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones less than 26s. 4d. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to a light-house. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "You are all wrong." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "None." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not breakfast." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will becomes even more simple." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "That you are never beaten." "Certainly." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my foot. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Holmes, the busybody!" "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was she slowly sank and died without having recovered her landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to girl said."