which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present begin with, and I had not got mine yet." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled to talk it over. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Sutherland. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, touch that coronet?' refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Is he quiet?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's What do you deduce from it?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, not, dad?" she asked. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did case before our client came into the room." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Yes." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an bore every mark of being an average commonplace British the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged soul! here is her carriage at the door." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though mystery may be cleared along those lines." he bowed and left the room without another word. me where it went to?" protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "I never have." upon a handsome competence. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing about. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the results." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Witness: It was. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "If so, much may have happened between." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "They are typewritten," I remarked. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "But how?" and effective." salesman. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "'Certainly,' I answered. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my nice household for a young lady." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money down in his armchair and closing his eyes. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the bottom.' "It is no ordinary one." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to London for the present?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." pound a week." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as of Fenchurch Street." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for where Mr. Fordham shows you.' The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Yes." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "What will you say?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Then I do not see the point." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other leaning back in his chair. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between strength of mind to control. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and done what I asked you, Jones?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his photograph?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that in a friendly supper." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at lamp in his hand. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Will you go?" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Have you it here?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I I was concerned in it." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "In what way?" asked Holmes. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "10th. John Swain cleared. within hail.' planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for congenial hunt. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that stalked out of the room. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have it. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or three of the beryls in it, was missing. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: me." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Where did you address your letters, then?" are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Then he might have called to you?" bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had a very grave face. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "I am all attention, madam." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End your own bird, so if you wish--" "'It is locked up,' I answered. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "We must sit without light. He would see it through the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "And why?" dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "It must be recovered." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very walking." Leadenhall Street--and--" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity spare." would then never go into court at all." "One?" "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring public press." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My felt?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Frequently." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible arrangements." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he the iron safe, which he closed upon it. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, was already answered. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "'What do you call purely nominal?' fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed room had already been engaged for us. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard impression behind it as though a window had gently closed shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Yes." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." attention." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the a suggestive one." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Because he was handy and would come cheap." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the foresight and the moral retrogression?" photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" that he has suffered." business came to an end." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of easy-going way." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters call it cruel." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Yes." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "To an end?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door stepfather?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City will not take me long to tell. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, beyond words. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his forbidden door. the nursery. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed danger is over." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Quite so. She has her freedom." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." washing it down with a long draught of water. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east front of me. said I. salesman. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Sutherland?" there was no need for father to know." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I examine." room?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. you understand?" were new raised from a basin. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country felt the room to be a little close.' 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm my special province." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "But we can't all be." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Holmes, the busybody!" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. results." it." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience ways including including checks, online payments and credit card always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich indiscretion." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the later, upon the night of May 2nd." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Your presence might be invaluable." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson what I may call a really hard day's work." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net your troubles." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who has little to do with my story." "Perhaps we may make them less so." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." once more. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it papers." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up woman who has had her own way to make in the world. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than several quiet little villages up there." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not less than 26s. 4d. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, For additional contact information: hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. fatally injured? shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, records." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may I approached. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I to-morrow." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I about here speaks of his kindness to him." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Have you good authority for what you say?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" writers could invent nothing more crude." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "An enemy?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you