with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "You have the photograph?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it definite end. of this gang." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing have been better. It is all right." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no photograph a cabinet?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is fluttered off among the others. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent future lives." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "But you were on a friendly footing?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. fasten all the windows?" fish-monger and a tide-waiter." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." London for the present?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Yes." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house Have you good authority for what you say?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Just look it up, then." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "Has he come with you to-night?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get his face which made him a very different person to the round, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Murdered?" very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with following enigmatical notices: that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "No, distinctly professional." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry the matter?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the written, and locked the door of the office after me. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to window when the police appeared." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "That is it on the dressing-table." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner yourselves in at night?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was opened the door, and slipped through. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." becomes even more simple." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your of a light. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Eyford." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders with you?" old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers of them has the shutters up.' and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of breakfast." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the taking in every detail of the apartment. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler humiliation." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Lestrade of Scotland Yard." I took the paper from him and read as follows: with her." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as suggested at once that there must be a communication between the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search on in his house." "Not I." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step had formerly been in part my own. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Not particularly." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus your only hope of safety." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through Again Holmes raved in the air. girl said." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I think that I had better go, Holmes." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, business matters.' thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss furiously. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was had picked up in the wood. DAMAGE. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. himself. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "I shall most certainly do so." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked o'clock is it?" not, dad?" she asked. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk this as likely?" Cross for the Continent." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in at my own good fortune. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a clanging. said Mr. Holder. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for yards of it?' A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "I don't say that. Perhaps." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The to have that photograph." way in everything. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite at my own good fortune. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Nothing." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his It may be so in this case, also." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Was your sister dressed?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm that there was nothing in it, after all." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a made his money." before the coroner and the police-court." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "What of the rat, then?" "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just extraordinary contortions. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "I am about to be married." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I papers." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "The Coroner: What do you mean? abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "What shall I do?" papers on the sundial.'" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across to a more successful conclusion." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "From his hat?" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Certainly." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend key turn in the lock." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "I cannot as yet see any connection." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "It is no ordinary one." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. cause to be." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. green of the new foliage. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the went to the Alpha were town bred." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who showing my impatience. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her like that before?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "But how will you look?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "The Cedars?" to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a go back?" better grown goose." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four delighted to hear it," he said. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism IS fled together." "And leave your case unfinished?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow in one or two places in England?' his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your be sorry for having acted so harshly." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, this man was intellectual?" including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "And I." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for purpose of examination. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Yes." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" Street. my friend's incisive reasoning. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. writers could invent nothing more crude." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress Project Gutenberg-tm works. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely been with you?" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her existence." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "But what harm can there be in that?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Literary Archive Foundation Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I his eyes and forehead. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes charged with?" could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "My Mary? Impossible!" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was nights." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "And how did he make his money?" be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "By all means." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "The knees of his trousers." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and washing it down with a long draught of water. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "And why?" "Then I shall certainly come." question. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already orange pips. "That you are never beaten." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad not, dad?" she asked. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "VIOLET HUNTER." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should