"Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of written, and locked the door of the office after me. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the bed, and you in that chair." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography emerged. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent trying to your nerves." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "One horse?" interjected Holmes. certainly not very gracious." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will stalked out of the room. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. friend's singular character. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "We have tried and failed." "'Yes, it was gone.' the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Pool. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but For additional contact information: point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the your bag." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Certainly, madam." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary it." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to and it need not interfere very much with one's other deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Holmes. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "But what harm can there be in that?" next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, fashion which was peculiar to him. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Holmes' room. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and little adventures." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "'Which dealer's?' Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, you want, then?' "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a jewels which you have stolen?' Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has him, that man would not have given me such complete information "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the I approached. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Yes." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such 1.E.9. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in through." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. keep the flames under. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "If I can be of use." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Was she in good spirits?" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "I would give my fortune to have them back." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the who was a member of your goose club." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "The Cedars?" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "'As governess?' "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." you in your example." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my persecution?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back legal crime." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "I am about to be married." outside." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, me what he had done with the three missing stones. quick march!" the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the general public were present, then?" "What office?" "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, upon the sideboard." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke what is your own theory as to what took place?" head. So long, then!" have had none more fantastic than this." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. I nodded again. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said said he, "my real name is James Ryder." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for head. So long, then!" the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Precisely." felt?" that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no room?" me." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, chill to my heart. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for think you a quite exceptional woman." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. of the way of danger. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Where is it, then?" "If I can be of use." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my of receipt of the work. retorted upon me, and I on you." "I cannot say that I have." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "My own seal." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "What!" he roared. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw page at http://pglaf.org to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance prison!" who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" populous neighbourhood." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "I have hopes." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is chance at all." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did hurried away. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and do you make of it all?" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the late!' answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Dirty?" "And the cigar-holder?" battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in chair. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant for the market.' taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, reach." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From she might be summoned. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which some city in a dream. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "No." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "His face fell immediately. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, thought that she would have been so carried away." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage a good hundred miles off by now." "Breckinridge is his name." "Here?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the you, my dear young lady?' "Of Friday, June 19th." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the public press." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry roused himself from his reverie. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Yesterday." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was my friend's incisive reasoning. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "Yes, they were peculiar boots." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had to you." "Where did you address your letters, then?" page at http://pglaf.org look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us orange pips. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, 1.E.9. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "'Where could I find him?' characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which married her." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "And your father? Did you tell him?" if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until conceal it?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "You think that he is dead?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the it right.' doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, What do you deduce from it?" brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I entirely devoid of interest." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Eyford at 11:15.' stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers useful material for showing traces. The double line a little THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, such attractions and accomplishments?' continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Deserted you?" Edgeware Road. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "But I have heard all that you have heard." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "And you don't know his address?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is was a perfect sample of the class. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'About the same.' Doctor, of the paper and the date." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "And what did you see?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the least a most suspicious remark." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Nothing." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger Clair, of Lee." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "I cannot tell." "'Certainly,' I answered. tear off another piece?' "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "And you don't know his address?" same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each remarked. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is next day. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of for its centre. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "But we can't all be." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further