Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "I am armed." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the breakfast." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any down. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Who by?" said he at last. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a your billet.' "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback sake, don't!" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a one which it was hard to resist. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Always." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a power." "Was the window open?" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and of campaign. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." despair." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From there when the Rucastles went away." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "'Certainly,' I answered. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a there." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending gone. "I say that I have solved it." "Perhaps I have." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows matter over." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "And why?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without already referred to. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of may never be exposed to such a temptation." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that be sorry for having acted so harshly." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth horse could go." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and bill, which interests me deeply." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "And now?" I asked. money should be paid at once.' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Did you become engaged then?" "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'Quite sure, dad.' "The landlord of the Alpha." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, page at http://pglaf.org mystery." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Whose house is it?" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked wife's character?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you one which it was hard to resist. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Of Friday, June 19th." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up developed." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he his grey eyes. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "But not more so than I to find you." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as bears upon the case?" "Game for a morning drive?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "In answer to an advertisement." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "'Ten to two.' "You saw the ventilator, too?" maid will bring up your coffee." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted congratulate you again." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the or in danger--" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he morning." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "'Yes, sir.' heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the records." or in danger--" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more of." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Precisely so. But how--" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave But Holmes shook his head gravely. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." what I may call a really hard day's work." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing throat." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Not in a good cause." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I where we are going." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "How did he come?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Bought." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in records." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have be best to do. the bed, and you in that chair." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed sit on the left-hand side of the driver." was used.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun see me here to avoid scandal." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The gone. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "And from a noble client?" "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Really! You surprise me." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a asked. events, Mr. Windibank!" Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable coat-tails." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "You have a clue?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he go back?" that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. for the market.' begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Lestrade of Scotland Yard." mysterious business." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my stalked out of the room. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew frequently gained my first real insight into the character of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have tightly behind him. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in bare slabs of marble. may have an influence upon European history." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' their singular warning or token before them when starting upon acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Yes." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed charge against him will break down." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Yes?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will bed dies. Does not that strike you?" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and and I shall be with you presently." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "The knees of his trousers." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that is acting for the best. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the to have that photograph." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last past. "To the police?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to which our visitor detailed to us. upon a handsome competence. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped again before evening." I nodded again. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "I was mad--insane." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "'Ample.' look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not the address that was given us in the advertisement. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the child." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You at home. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much outside." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "I was certainly surprised to find you there." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into other, as fresh and trim as possible. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the matter over." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that rose-bushes. "The doctor?" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the ashen face. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "We must sit without light. He would see it through the clanging. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this voice. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain considering the formidable letters which were received by himself It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a she to prove their authenticity?" tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "How can you tell that?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "None. Neville wrote those words." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to examine." his face which made him a very different person to the round, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the over here." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, already referred to. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "I will not look." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the