in him." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a to a more successful conclusion." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself what I may call a really hard day's work." easy-going way." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep point our research must commence, and we will begin it by instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Pope's Court. take the flies, but not before." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Then he might have called to you?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a galvanised. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any his face. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The money should be paid at once.' Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit visitors." John Swain, of St. Augustine. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the tragedy. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "And is that all?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "And now?" I asked. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which carried out of court." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." neither fascinating nor artistic." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. speckled band?" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he shall not find me ungrateful." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. emerged. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had which it had come upon my father." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Your French gold?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The minor matters until to-morrow." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have is so. I know all about McCarthy." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "What shall I do?" years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Yes?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and fact, we may call it conclusive." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." that he will be back before evening." "No, I think that I'll take it." the stable lane now." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Leave Paddington by the 11:15." suddenly upon us." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set window when the police appeared." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have train from Paddington which would bring you there at about going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Oh, the cause is excellent!" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "What will you say?" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman your room." all?" of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he sake, don't!" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager tell me that you intended to go into harness." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "I answered that I had not. chance." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. it were putty." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "What office?" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this she used." key turn in the lock." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were interests were the same as his." unkempt, staring out at me. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out asked. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Always." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Where, then?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said away to you." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he back alive. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. appeared upon the scene." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell nice household for a young lady." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook bill, which interests me deeply." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my details should find their way into the papers. Inspector was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "None." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't never came back." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "It came here." is worth.' hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began this poor creature." just ask you whether you had heard it.' meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Cross for the Continent." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Yes, I have one waiting." some water from a caraffe. memory. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the to a more successful conclusion." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of exactly what you advise." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, not within a twentieth part of the market price." think you a quite exceptional woman." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Upon what point?" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the so far?" you came in." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "If so, much may have happened between." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Have you her photograph?" of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in any." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "'I have already given you my word.' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "There is the writing." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "By all means." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of to you." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Do you know him?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I of them has the shutters up.' writer." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "I beg pardon." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest lamp. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "'Is purely nominal.' little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its charged with?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when coroner's jury." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door think you a quite exceptional woman." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to one's self under obligations.' his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the tragedy. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my I approached. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. straighten it?" on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view It was close upon four before the door opened, and a again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project had died away into the silence from which it rose. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive populous neighbourhood." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he imbecility!" he cried. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too one which it was hard to resist. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set most interesting one." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished Pool. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "I have seen the police." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" morning." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he extraordinary contortions. "But what will you do?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are he died? absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. fire. You quite follow me?" "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her late!' was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in tension within him. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "What! a murderous attack?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of it. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich telegram would bring me down to your help." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "I cannot say that I have." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To of fine shops and stately business premises that they really violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I of." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the I have it here in my museum." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation yourselves in at night?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the asked. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Could he throw no light?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Then, how do you know?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "We have tried and failed." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and to me. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of of a light. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in on in his house." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is of it with the greatest attention. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as colour had been driven from his face. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Very. But will he see it?" quite distinctive." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "But what is it you wish?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on this as likely?" "It is very kind of you." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to were wasted." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. has little to do with my story." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it case-book, which he consulted. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a vanished into the darkness. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "To an English lawyer named Norton." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my within hail.' myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle