"I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, flock.' manager. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Were they all fastened this morning?" said he. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off more terrible than the truth. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town strength of mind to control. certainly not very gracious." fatally injured? down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of your room." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and and inquire as to the address." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not place, I think that there is good ground to think that the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Pray do so." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Was he the only applicant?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." is now desirous of getting those letters back." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child matter." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Which are?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every him to be an active member of the medical profession." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off the window, rose as we entered. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Ample." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I outsides of the windows. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still shall not find me ungrateful." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little fashion which was peculiar to him. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from presented which may be striking and bizarre without being come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a an introduction to him?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Pray be precise as to details," said he. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Where is it, then?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Where to?" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his Street. tapping his fingers upon the table. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Sutherland?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence electronic works before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little signal between you and your father? sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had fish-monger and a tide-waiter." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the come either from the window or the door. My attention was man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Always." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "An accident, I presume?" With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his green of the new foliage. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." I leave." there when the Rucastles went away." with the outside air!" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, even so self-evident a thing as that." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "What I expected to see." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and had a long day." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round upon the sideboard." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone where we are going." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "And now?" I asked. conceal it?" past. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "I answered that I had not. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the depend upon my doing so.' detained." "Entirely." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed indeed happy." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere dear old homesteads?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & occurred." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Dr. Becher's." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came him nearly every evening." "I have solved it." "I am all attention, madam." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "No, but the enclosure is." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at entirely devoid of interest." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "'What, the red-headed man?' down from London to inquire more deeply into it." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he leave you to your papers for a little." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to records." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "What?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "What have you to say now?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety have got?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his absolutely follow my advice in every respect." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend cigar and let me expound." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a bonnet, and went out." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "So I heard. You have him here?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots gentleman's clothes. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I clang of the bell. have got?" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "But you have hopes?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit served to weaken the effect. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a right! Sit down and let us talk it over." 1.E.9. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time spark where all is dark to me." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, burst out into a roar of laughter. on in his house." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my money should be paid at once.' find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I fat-encircled eyes. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your reach." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I later, upon the night of May 2nd." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Why serious?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, to miss it." annoyance, but no jest. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of and no precautions can guard against." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. papers diligently of late, have you not?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two your own bird, so if you wish--" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Well, it is a possible supposition." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "'What are you doing there?' he asked. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the companion imperturbably. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen long narrative. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "None." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't together. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum DAMAGE. already been minutely examined." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "None." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "His face fell immediately. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton events, Mr. Windibank!" his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to the Assizes." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do shaken than I had ever seen him. heavily into it. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other one's self under obligations.' in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat in his hands." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "No." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "And Miss Sutherland?" been shamefully used." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, as yours." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small families. Now for the facts. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm later, upon the night of May 2nd." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence here and I will read it to you: know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each future lives." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet visitors." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "'What then?' I asked. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Did you become engaged then?" revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "I was sure that I might rely on you." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "By all means." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It said I. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Whose house is it?" bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "And you don't know his address?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "It's nothing of the kind." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "At half-wages, in fact." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom awaited us upon the table. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Which are?" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing purpose of examination. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "It came here." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." distinguish the words: "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own opened the door, and slipped through.