than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each him!" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "I should be immensely obliged to you." directors, with the result that you have seen." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. stood on the top of it. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was I took the paper from him and read as follows: "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those may have an influence upon European history." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the highly," said Holmes. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "It's nothing of the kind." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "I fear not." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You hard-headed British jury." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "It was an hour's good drive." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Very much so." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Entirely." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." there in twenty minutes." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Then the page we have seen--" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a returning from some small jollification and was making his way there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "We have tried and failed." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many third from London." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Do you know him?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "It was a confession," I ejaculated. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "It certainly sounds feasible." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than must be when I saw the door open.' home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few desk. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat village inn over there?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I have my revolver," said I. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Never to return." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united spare." late." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, his grey eyes. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" not within a twentieth part of the market price." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "You have compromised yourself seriously." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered someone who had been in Australia." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges directors have had misgivings upon the subject." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Dr. Becher's." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him here." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it You want to know what became of those geese?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the yards of it?' equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence humiliation." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "They are typewritten," I remarked. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." the roots. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not which it had come upon my father." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "I have a cab outside." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all writer." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are happened." there in twenty minutes." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford your bag." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. this man was intellectual?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "She showed me, as I told you she would." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the so-precious time, but come!' Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but of fine shops and stately business premises that they really of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "'What, the red-headed man?' is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start photograph?" stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would and inquire as to the address." fear." death." "Was your sister dressed?" office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same It may be so in this case, also." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his mystery!" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Then you may be so with me." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "What then?" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found Watson," he said cordially. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the as this. Pray let me have the details." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out directly by questioning you." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as some terrible trap for her." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the pound a week." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers been able to understand it, in a very few words. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. which it had come upon my father." to me. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and plantation.' "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Oh, the cause is excellent!" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new and capable of preserving a secret.' the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry have been better. It is all right." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully affection." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Ten will be early enough." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two Sutherland. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "And it is--" merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Deserted you?" fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "And now?" I asked. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that generous with you in money matters.' he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet ourselves in the office." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is present strange and interesting features that it is no easy to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "What! You do not mean bodies?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some in your London, you will know that the office of the company is the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we made him keep the appointment." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which John Swain, of St. Augustine. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, them?" knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it fattened it expressly for you.' expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Where is it, then?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "What of the rat, then?" which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "I think that it is very probable." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by stood on the top of it. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "How often?" "We have tried and failed." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes locked. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "So I heard. You have him here?" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "He slept on the premises." the Assizes." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "But how could you guess what the motive was?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My bled considerably." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a detained." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "To ruin me." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never the roots. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was security.' dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "We must have a cab." "No, I think that I'll take it." habit of advancing money.' said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." results." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. out." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, introspective fashion. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Not yet." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the past. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Pray be precise as to details," said he. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the bachelor.' "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of and all of them with the keenest interest. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "About a month then." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed and the church but not where the lady lived." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "It certainly sounds feasible." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I entirely lost his self-respect." if I call to-morrow?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the at my own good fortune. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended over here." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the the bottom.' "But we can't all be." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Quite so. She has her freedom." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every his fortune, and I went back to pa. answer." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "So it appears." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came ourselves in the office." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "My own seal." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "If I can be of use." that you saw all that I did." strong and stiff." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "'You doubt its value?' he asked. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and,