fat-encircled eyes. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three not, dad?" she asked. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut a good hundred miles off by now." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while already been minutely examined." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, was a loud and authoritative tap. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Not particularly." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great other means.' "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "What is it?" vault. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "That was it, sir." to his chemical studies. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Well, it is a possible supposition." "How did he come?" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be upon the sideboard." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. through." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Yes, but only for you and me." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover time." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "I will try. What is it?" DAMAGE. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize and inquire as to the address." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by upon a handsome competence. key turn in the lock." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria without a word or a look. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will the coronet at all injured?" "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life which it had come upon my father." name is different." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Then I am your man." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." on in his house." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark at home. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, threw himself down with his face to the pillow. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich during that time.' "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or peculiar to him. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." that?' "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "What can you not understand?" breakfast?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe the Assizes." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across will take you up to see the machine.' get the tickets." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest unclasping of his long thin hands. morning." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I redistribution. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his confronted him. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Holmes' thin, eager face. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock criminal. We have already had experience of such." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been was keenly on my guard against him. flock.' "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself girl said." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "What is it, then--a fire?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he galvanised. depend upon my doing so.' the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to for the market.' back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "I don't say that. Perhaps." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. disappearance of these gems?" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Did you observe the colour?" My friend smiled. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own with you alone." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." chamber." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "But how did you gain them?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "How many? I don't know." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Frequently." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I feature." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some have I gained?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with that I am arrested." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which this poor creature." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Then I can wait in the next room." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady his forehead." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Who by?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'No, I know no one in these parts.' King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' of your young ladies.' was a lad." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly Chief Executive and Director light and attacked it." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. again, where I was soon asleep. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." before, for it was considerably after midnight. "And your mother is alive?" "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Seven!" I answered. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. Pope's Court. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "In what way?" asked Holmes. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I Pope's Court. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "9th. McCauley cleared. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." always that they were such commands as a lady might with "On the contrary, this is the right side." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "No." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "No." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back strength." visitors." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Holmes. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" awkward doing business with an alias." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave habit of advancing money.' undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich me, and I could not think that his explanation of the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." call you and give you the chance." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual know what is wrong with it.' but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "But you would not advise me to refuse?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, coroner's jury." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact the general public were present, then?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and miles off. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a him to go away.' style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have occurred." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were was it brought him the coronet? He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country green of the new foliage. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He way in." "That is it on the dressing-table." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was the matter." "No." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Absolutely none." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Never." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "No?" give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella which was all perfectly true. "BALLARAT." what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "What! You do not mean bodies?" then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to his eyes and forehead. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Eyford at 11:15.' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Where to?" moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he unprecedented a position." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut these bleak autumnal evenings." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. towards the blaze. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "I say that I have solved it." down. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, questioning and rather startled gaze. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. what these perils are?" Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "It was an hour's good drive." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "I say it is." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Has he come with you to-night?" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm disturbance in my wife." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "You will not go there first?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured on re-entering her father's house?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the upon the white wrist. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "No." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Frequently." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Yes, all." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but house for five minutes.' stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Eyford at 11:15.' "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "The King of Scandinavia." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "And why in hopes?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were should be taken.' empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Will you go?" go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "No. His orders were to stay in the house." are, and they are waiting for us." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since as the one I chose?' "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be children over to America with him, so that I found myself without ventilator." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "This concluded the examination of the witness." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated