purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been happened." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Certainly, madam." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. eat it." a suggestive one." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with lids now and glanced across at his visitor. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my to a more successful conclusion." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old business." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his national property. I was determined that the law should have its brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as tell me that you intended to go into harness." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took companion. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "What steps will you take?" I asked. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Then what has happened to him?" happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever locked. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. plantation.' people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with and glanced through. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "'Oh, no.' was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of chamber." father's young wife. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with better grown goose." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Has he come with you to-night?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, peculiar to him. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "It is half-past ten now." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her bill, which interests me deeply." "In the cells." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper strength." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "The knees of his trousers." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Surrey." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Dr. Becher's." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "But what is it you wish?" days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret forecastle of an emigrant ship. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you always that they were such commands as a lady might with nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I you?' hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed she has been waylaid. There has been no result." strength in the others." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "'Ten to two.' possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the point in the dark hollow of his hand. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Leave Paddington by the 11:15." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. other lovers by making love himself." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Pray tell us what has happened to you." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Only as much as we can deduce." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Yes, only one." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. McCarthy." father's young wife. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few to some other building. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings little trying to do so much typewriting?" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have read it out to me." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "It was." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a corner of the building. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "'Entirely.' pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and to have that photograph." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. and a shock of very red hair. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Thank you. Pray proceed." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond geese which you supplied to the Alpha." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with assist you in forming an opinion." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "A confidential servant?" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of seen the man in the road." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it his cane at the bell-pull. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery third from London." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. coat-tails." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be of this gang." where we are going." public press." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the house for five minutes.' themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His desk. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier even of instruction." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "I fear not." infinite languor in his face. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a chair. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about particular state visit http://pglaf.org "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End opportunities to fix the problem. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not to you." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done hard-headed British jury." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old the ceiling. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is there is a decided draught." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were strange features which were associated with the two crimes which return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon McCarthy's innocence. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, is a common subject for conversation. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "10th. John Swain cleared. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Was he the only applicant?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Well." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then have an American origin." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you undoubtedly my uncle's." furiously. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "I see many objections to any such theory." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business your billet.' he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the my special province." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting back to my heart. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the ceiling. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "I cannot say that I have." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "I think it very unlikely." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "I see no marks." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "It is to him that this trophy belongs." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." future lives." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. spark where all is dark to me." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old most interesting one." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for once more. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Well, it is a possible supposition." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "I have my revolver," said I. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too ready to-morrow?' horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" nothing with him." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was sofa. This way, please!" "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the cigar and let me expound." "I beg pardon." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb despaired of." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself criminal. We have already had experience of such." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though window when the police appeared." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "No. His orders were to stay in the house." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his burst out into a roar of laughter. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low what do you think they found in the pockets?" outbreak?" habit of advancing money.' been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "That is easily got." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much along the entire front of the house, with three long windows of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "'In my own bureau.' was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Here?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "But you have hopes?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "My dear Holmes!" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "By all means." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.'